British-Israeli teenager is killed while fighting for the IDF in Gaza two weeks after his 19th birthday
- Binyamin Needham was killed after just two days on the ground in Gaza
- He was born in Edgeware, North London, but has lived in Israel for ten years
- The circumstances surrounding his death have not yet been released
A British-born teenager has been killed fighting in the Gaza Strip for the Israeli army.
Binyamin Needham, who celebrated his 19th birthday two weeks ago, was named by officials as killed in action, along with two others.
Avid martial arts enthusiast Binyamin had only been in Gaza for two days when he was fatally injured, although the exact circumstances have not been revealed.
He was born in Edgware, north London, and moved back to Israel with his parents Faye and Amnon ten years ago. The family lives near Haifa in northern Israel.
Binyamin was the youngest of six children and was known as the 'baby of the family' and still has a sister and a brother in London.
Binyamin Needham (pictured), who celebrated his 19th birthday two weeks ago, was named by officials as killed in action, along with two others
Binyamin will be buried at a military funeral in Haifa on Tuesday after his body was returned to the family
The IDF has expanded its operations in Gaza and sent ground troops to clear Hamas members
He was a sergeant in the Combat Engineering Corps of the 601st Battalion and was one of three IDF soldiers killed on Sunday.
Binyamin had just completed his internship and vocational training and had spent the weekend before he was killed with his family.
His sister Orli Ferris said: “He was such a wonderful, wonderful brother and we loved him with all our hearts and we always will.
“He will be missed by all of us and so many others, but we will always make sure we remember him in our hearts.
“Nothing will be the same now, but we are all very proud of what he did and he was proud of what he did.
'He had just completed his education and was doing his vocational training. We don't know the exact details of what happened, but he was only in Gaza for two days. He went in on Friday and died on Sunday. '
Since October 7, 401 soldiers have been killed, 75 of them during ground operations in Gaza
The young Londoner was a sergeant in the Combat Engineering Corps of the 601st Battalion and was one of three IDF soldiers killed on Sunday
Israeli troops can be seen entering Gaza following a week-long ceasefire with Hamas
Orli explained that Benjamin moved to Israel from London with his parents at the age of eight.
She added: “We are so sad and my parents are devastated, we can't make sense of it and we are heartbroken.
'We will honor him and keep his memory alive. He was a great kid and everyone who knew him said the same.
“He died with a pure soul and he died protecting his country. He went back to London every year to see his brothers and sisters who lived there.'
He will be buried at a military funeral in Haifa on Tuesday after his body was returned to the family.
In a statement, the IDF said it “shared the family's grief” and “would continue to accompany them.”
Since October 7, 401 soldiers have been killed, 75 of them during ground operations in Gaza.