Staff Sergeant Omer Van Gelder, 22, from Ma’ale Adumim, was killed yesterday (Monday) during combat in the northern Gaza Strip, along with two of his comrades from the Givati Brigade, Ofek Barhana and Lior Steinberg z”l.
A graduate of AMIT Eitan High School in Ma’ale Adumim, Omer was known from a young age as someone with a big heart. He began volunteering with Magen David Adom as a medic even before turning 18, took part in every social initiative, carried a guitar and a smile nearly everywhere he went, and was always the first to raise his hand when asked, “Who wants to volunteer?”
A Commander Everyone Wanted to Follow
In the IDF, Omer served as a combat soldier and commander in the Rotem Battalion, 9th Battalion of the Givati Brigade. There too, the stories about him were always the same: always taking initiative, always caring for others, always offering a kind word. His friends describe him as a commander who was attentive, principled, and deeply inspiring. Two days before he fell, he wrote to his girlfriend: “We’re going out on a complicated mission. I love you.” A simple, tender message that captured the loving sincerity of his character.
This morning, AMIT Eitan High School issued a heartfelt message of mourning: “Omer was a beloved graduate, a student with a great soul.” Principal Daniel Bari wrote, “Omer was a gifted young man, joyful and a joy to others. He wanted to give back to his country—as a soldier, a commander, and a human being.” Elior Ohana, his homeroom teacher, remembered him tearfully: “He was always the first to show up to any volunteer activity, guitar in hand. He loved, he listened, he gave. He was one of the finest fruits this land has produced.”
Elior Ohana, Omer’s teacher, mourned his student with deep sorrow:
“The loss is beyond comprehension. Omer was one of the finest in this land. We lost a truly special student—full of love, full of responsibility toward others. He was active in Magen David Adom and in every volunteering opportunity the school had. He was always the first to arrive, with the guitar he brought everywhere.”
A Double Tragedy for One Family
Omer’s death comes just six months after the loss of his relative, Omer Moshe Gealdor, who was killed in a drone strike in southern Lebanon. In a farewell post on social media, Ilan Geal-Dor wrote: “Another tragedy has struck our family. Soldier Omer Van Gelder is the son of our cousin, Haggai Van Gelder. He was a close relative of Omer Gealdor, who was killed about six months ago.”
“He Did Everything for the Country”
Tehila Van Gelder, Omer’s mother, shared in an interview with Ynet Studio this morning: “Ever since Omer enlisted, the door never closed. I always wanted to see what was happening outside. I wanted to know that the officers weren’t coming. But yesterday, they came.” Her voice was full of heartbreak, but also undeniable pride: “Omer fought from the very beginning of his service. He never rested. He did everything for the country.”
The Ma’ale Adumim Municipality issued a statement: “Omer loved the land, the people, and every individual. He gave his life—physically, but also spiritually—out of great love.”
Omer’s funeral will be held this afternoon at Mount Herzl. May his memory be a blessing.
