Israeli authorities said that 2nd Lt. Pedayah Mark, 22, was killed in action in Gaza. His father was killed in a Palestinian shooting attack in Judea in 2016.
Arutz Sheva reports that Pdaya sent his family a bouquet of flowers after the death of his cousin Elchanan Kalmanson, along with a letter in which he promised, “We will meet soon.”
Kalmanson fell on October 7, while fighting the Hamas terrorists who invaded and occupied Israeli communities near the Gaza border. Pedaya received the message about Kalmanson’s death, but refused to leave for the levayah, instead preferring to stay and fight with his soldiers.
“Beloved family! These are challenging days for the nation and for our family in particular. We are strong! The people of Israel are strong, the IDF is strong!” he wrote in his letter to his family. He added: “I’m looking after you and you are with me in my heart. We are going to wipe them out.” Mark then quoted the verse, “I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till I destroyed them.” He signed the letter, “We will meet soon, please God. ‘Am Israel Chai.'”
At the age of 15, Pedaya was driving with his family when terrorists opened fire at the family’s vehicle. His father, Rabbi Michi (Michael) Mark, was murdered, and others in the family were injured. The terrorists’ bullets hit all the family members other than Pdaya, who was hit just by shrapnel. Three years after the attack, Shlomi Mark, Pdaya’s brother, was killed in a car accident on his way to work at the Ministry of Defense.
May Hashem avenge their blood.