Moving house to house, they cleared buildings occupied by Hamas terrorists and guided residents to safety.

By Hezy Laing

On the morning of October 7, 2023, the city of Sderot—just 700 meters from the Gaza border—became one of the first and most brutal targets of Hamas’s surprise invasion.

At 6:27 a.m., a barrage of rockets shattered the quiet, followed by the infiltration of 41 Hamas terrorists in pickup trucks and a Hyundai i10.

They launched a coordinated assault on civilians, police, and infrastructure, turning the streets into a war zone.

As gunfire erupted, terrified residents found themselves trapped in their homes, many unaware of the infiltration due to religious observance or lack of warning.

Emergency hotlines were overwhelmed with calls reporting gunfire, casualties, and missing persons.

Among the first responders was Staff Sgt. Itamar Bruchin, a 20-year-old commander in the IDF Paratroopers Brigade.

He was at his girlfriend Lior’s house in Ashdod when the sirens began. Without hesitation, he rushed home to retrieve his gear and joined his unit in Sderot.

There, Bruchin and his team undertook a perilous mission: rescuing civilians amid ongoing gunfire and rocket attacks.

Moving house to house, they cleared buildings occupied by Hamas gunmen and guided residents to safety.

Bruchin was directly involved in firefights, confronting terrorists in close-quarters combat.

Despite the bravery of responders, the battle claimed 53 lives in Sderot alone—37 civilians, 11 police officers, 3 IDF soldiers, and 2 rescue workers.

Bruchin was one of the soldiers who was killed.

The next morning, while still engaged in operations, he was struck by a Hamas-fired rocket and succumbed to his injuries shortly afterward.

Bruchin was laid to rest on October 11th, remembered as a “born leader” who lived fully and gave his life protecting others.

He was just 20 years old.

His story has become a symbol of the courage and sacrifice shown by IDF soldiers during the Iron Swords War.