Brit, 22, ‘seen carrying wounded civilian at Israeli kibbutz’ is confirmed to have died fighting Hamas gunmen ‘within days of celebrating first wedding anniversary’

• This is a breaking news story. More to follow 

A British-Israeli soldier who was seen carrying a wounded civilian out of harm’s way at a kibbutz as Hamas terrorists attacked has had his death confirmed by his family. 

Yosef Guedalia was just 22 years old when he was killed fighting in an anti-terror squad that confronted Hamas terrorists at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, just a few miles from the Gaza Strip, on 7 October. 

His brother, Asher, said he helped get injured civilians to safety before going back to fight the terrorists. 

Asher said he has a video of Yosef carrying an injured civilian who is now alive and recovering in hospital. 

Yosef, whose mother Dina is British and grew up in Manchester, within days of his first wedding anniversary with his wife, Senai, 23. 

His family told the Times that he was at a synagogue while on weekend leave from his mandatory military service, which he only had five months left of, when sirens warning of the Hamas attack blared. 

Yosef was due to celebrate his first anniversary with his wife

Yosef leaves behind his wife, Senai, 23, within days of his first wedding anniversary 

Yosef was part of the elite Duvdevan unit of the IDF, known for its undercover operations in urban area

He contacted his superiors and asked them whether they wanted him to fight. 

After returning to their Jerusalem flat, he got ready for battle. 

His wife, Senai, said: ‘Then he said: “I love you, I’ll see you soon” and he got in the car.’

He reportedly arrived at the kibbutz at 12pm, fighting for more than two hours with three of his friends, also IDF soldiers, before falling in battle. 

‘He fought until his last breath and they killed him. We were fortunate that we could bury him and mourn him,’ his father David Guedalia, 54, said. 

Asher said that his brother, who lived in Jersusalem with his wife, understood that ‘he might not get back to his wife and his family but that’s his calling. That’s the hero we had for 22 years.’ 

Yosef and Senai lived in Jerusalem together, and were at a synagogue when the sirens warning of an imminent attack blared 

‘He literally saved people minutes before he got shot. He acted with heroism and determination, he continued to fight and didn’t think of himself or hesitate,’ Asher said. 

‘He went into rescue as many citizens as possible before they got murdered in their homes and to kill as many terrorists as he could.’

The Times of Israel reported that Guedalia was part of the elite Duvdevan unit of the IDF, known for its undercover operations in urban areas. 

Its members are well-known for being highly trained in counterintelligence, as well as taking out high value militant targets.  

Yosef was buried in the Har Hertzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem. 

Yosef was one of 11 Brits who have been killed by Hamas in the bloodiest conflict between the terror group and Israel in decades. 

At least four more Brits are still missing. 

Yosef’s death comes just weeks after another young Brit, Nathanel Young, was confirmed to have died while fighting Hamas as an IDF soldier. 

The IDF said he was killed while serving in the 13th Battalion, the first confirmed British casualty of the worst violence in the region for decades. 

More to follow.  

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