Yona Bezalel Brief was a 23-year-old Israeli soldier from Modi’in Maccabim Re’ut, a city west of Jerusalem. He was a combat medic in the elite Duvdevan Unit, part of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Commando Brigade. A graduate of Lapid Yeshiva High School, Yona was described as a young man of strong values, bravery, and dedication. He came from a close-knit family, with parents Hazel and David and five siblings who remained by his side throughout his ordeal.
Military Service and Initial Injury
Before the events of October 7, 2023, Yona had already demonstrated remarkable determination. Approximately five months prior, in May 2023, he was seriously wounded during an operation in Tulkarm, a city in Judea and Samaria. Despite the severity of his injuries, which could have qualified him for a medical discharge, Yona refused to leave his unit. After rehabilitation, he returned to active duty with Duvdevan, the unit made famous by Netflix's Fauda series.
October 7, 2023: The Battle at Kfar Aza
On the morning of October 7, 2023, Yona was among the first responders dispatched to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a small community that became a focal point of the assault.
During the intense fighting, Yona sustained catastrophic injuries. Reports indicate he was hit by 13 bullets, shattering both of his legs, while attempting to help his wounded fellow soldiers, including his best friend Amir Fisher and commander Ben Bronshtein, both of whom were killed in the battle. Despite his wounds, Yona continued to provide medical care to others, embodying extraordinary heroism under fire. His actions helped eliminate dozens of Hamas fighters, but he was left critically wounded.
417 Days of Struggle
Yona was evacuated to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, where he spent the next 417 days in intensive care. His injuries were among the most severe of any soldier from the October 7 attacks, with both legs amputated above the knees and his body ravaged by multiple gunshot wounds. A dedicated team of doctors and nurses fought tirelessly to save him, performing numerous surgeries and administering extensive antibiotic treatments. Throughout this period, Yona remained in critical condition, unable to rise from his bed and barely able to speak, yet he radiated a fierce will to live.
His family, parents David and Hazel, along with his siblings, never left his side, turning his survival into their collective mission. The city of Modi’in and Jewish communities worldwide prayed for his recovery, with a public prayer planned at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on the evening of November 26, 2024, just hours after his condition took a sharp turn for the worse.
