St.-Sgt. Israel Lutati
Sept 23, 2004 - St.-Sgt. Israel Lutati, 20, of Neve Dekalim was one of three soldiers killed by Palestinian terrorists, who infiltrated the military post near the community of Morag in the southern Gaza Strip. Two Fatah-related terror groups and the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Early Thursday morning, several Palestinian terrorists, armed with AK-47 assault riffles and hand grenades, infiltrated the military post near the community of Morag, in southern Gaza. The gunmen infiltrated under cover of the community's greenhouses and opened fire at the soldiers, killing an IDF officer - Capt. Tal Bardugo and two IDF soldiers Staff-Sergeants Israel Lutati and Nir Sami. Another IDF soldier and a journalist were wounded in the exchange of fire in which the terrorists were killed.
Born in Kiryat Gat, Israel Lutati moved with his family to Neve Dekalim in the Gaza Strip in 1989. He attended the Neot Katif elementary school and then studied at Kfar Mimon Yeshiva High School near Be'er Sheva.
Israel was well known in his settlement for his voluntary work at the emergency call center from the age of 13, at first accompanying his father, and at the local Magen David Adom rescue service, where he had treated many casualties of attacks in the Gush Katif area. In an attack on the Orchan IDF post two months ago, Lutati was one of the first to reach the location, and assisted in rescuing the injured.
After his death was announced in Neve Dekalim on Thursday, hundreds of Gush Katif residents gathered at the Lutati family home. Many wondered if the burial should take place in Gush Katif's small cemetery, which might be evacuated together with the Gaza settlements, but Lutati's father, Eli, immediately told his relatives, "He lived here, he fought here, and he will be buried here."
St.-Sgt. Israel Lutati was buried in the Gush Katif cemetery. He is survived by his parents, Eli and Rachel, and five brothers and sisters: Ornit, Avi, Shani, Shir-El and Daniel. After the disengagement from the Gaza Strip (August 2005), he was reburied in the new cemetery in Nitzan.