Saturday morning, October 7, 2023, the Hamas terror organization launched a surprise attack against Israel. On that day, Capt. Eden Nimri of blessed memory was serving in the “Skyrider” unit, which operates UAVs to accompany special forces in the field. She was at the Nahal Oz post, about 500 yards from the border with Gaza. When she heard the siren, Eden took her team into a concrete protective facility, where several lookouts had already found shelter.
From the explosions echoing near the post, Eden understood that terrorists had managed to penetrate. The concrete protective facility had two openings, and Eden could tell which one the terrorists would employ. She positioned herself at the dangerous opening and ordered her soldiers to move near the other opening but aim their weapons at the dangerous one. At the same time, she concentrated on protecting the other opening. In this way, Eden set a trap for the terrorists: The first terrorist entered through the opening that Eden expected him to use, and the other soldiers, who were already aiming their cocked rifles there, killed that terrorist.
But as Eden had anticipated, many more terrorists charged the entrance, tossed grenades in, and opened fire. Eden protected the other soldiers with her body and took the worst of the attack, while managing to return fire and lead the defense until she was killed. Eden’s tenacity and coolheadedness saved the lives of the other soldiers, who were rescued from the post some hours later.
Eden, a swimmer who could have served under the special conditions of an outstanding sportswoman, had volunteered instead for a piloting course and then chosen to serve in the elite “Skyrider” unit. May she rest in peace.
