A 20-year-old soldier of Indian descent from Israel was one of the Israeli fighters who lost their lives in the conflict in Gaza, as confirmed by community members and the Mayor of Dimona on Wednesday. Staff-Sgt. Halel Solomon hailed from Dimona, a town in southern Israel. Mayor Benny Bitton expressed deep sorrow over Halel’s death in a post, offering condolences to his parents and sisters. Halel had joined the Givati Brigade with a strong sense of duty and respect for his family. Dimona, known for its nuclear reactor, is also called “little India” due to its sizable Indian Jewish population.
Members of the Indian community described Halel as a young man with a promising future and mourned his loss, along with other Israeli soldiers who were fighting for their country’s survival. Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged the difficulty and sacrifices of the ongoing war in Gaza, vowing to continue until victory. He emphasized the value of each fallen soldier and assured their families of the nation’s unwavering support.
Hamas’ deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1400 Israelis and the capture of 240 hostages. Israel, with support from the US and other Western allies, launched a war against Hamas to dismantle the terrorist group and secure the release of the hostages. The conflict in Gaza has claimed over 8,000 lives, with Israeli airstrikes and ground operations escalating in recent days.
