October 7th was the most horrible day in Israel’s history when thousands of Hamas militants crossed the border with the intent to kill as many civilians as possible and take many more as hostages. On that day, more than 1,200 people were massacred. There is a well-known saying that the death of one person is a tragedy, while the death of many becomes just a statistic. To the extent that this is true, it is important to share the personal stories of those whose lives ended that day. Today, I want to share the story of one of them: my nephew, Ofek Rousso.
Ofek was born on October 2, 2002, to my brother Yaniv and his wife, Faye. As the younger brother to Inbar, he grew up with a shy smile, blond hair, and striking blue eyes. He was a beautiful child who excelled in everything he did. Ofek played the saxophone, drums, and guitar, mastered karate, and won international martial arts competitions. He even became a professional skateboarder, always pushing himself to achieve more.
Ofek’s determination and dedication were evident in everything he did. He had an inner strength that everyone who met him felt instantly. As he approached the end of high school, like many young men in Israel, he began to think about his military service. Ofek wanted to serve in the most challenging and meaningful unit possible, where he could give his utmost for his country. For him, that meant one thing: Shayetet 13, Israel’s elite naval commando unit.
“Shayetet 13” is one of the most prestigious units in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), but it is also incredibly difficult to join. Many aspire to be part of it, but few are accepted, and even fewer complete the gruelling two-year training. Ofek, determined as always, prepared himself both physically and mentally for the challenge. He participated in rigorous pre-enlistment training to improve his fitness and prepare for the hardships ahead.
The first step in joining Shayetet 13 is a brutal week-long selection process known as “Gibush.” Out of 27 candidates in his group, Ofek was the only one to successfully complete the week and be accepted into the course. What followed were nearly two years of unimaginable challenges: long, gruelling marches with heavy loads, survival in extreme conditions, and hours of combat training. Throughout it all, Ofek persevered and succeeded, passing every test with flying colours.
In June 2023, Ofek graduated as a certified naval commando fighter. It was the happiest day of his life. His parents, sister, girlfriend, and grandparents attended the ceremony, which was also graced by the Israeli Minister of Defense and the Commander of the Israeli Navy. The future seemed bright, and Ofek, with his exceptional abilities and iron will, was ready to take on the world.
But fate had other plans.
Just five days after celebrating his 21st birthday, on the morning of October 7th, Ofek and his comrades were dispatched to rescue civilians and confront the terrorists who had already killed hundreds.
What followed was a day of horror and heroism. Ofek and his comrades fought in close-quarter combat, facing overwhelming odds. Despite being vastly outnumbered, they managed to kill many terrorists and save dozens of civilians. Amidst the chaos, they witnessed unimaginable scenes of families slaughtered in their homes, entire lives extinguished in an instant.
At 2:00 a.m. on October 8th, Ofek heard a call for help. An IDF officer had been shot and was critically wounded. Without hesitation, Ofek ran into the line of fire to provide life-saving treatment. In doing so, he was hit by a burst of gunfire. Ofek died on the spot, but the officer’s life was saved.
As we mark the first anniversary of his death, we remember Ofek’s bravery, kindness, and determination. He lived a meaningful life, fulfilling his dreams and ultimately giving his life to save others.
His story, like the stories of so many other young men and women who died defending Israel, will be passed down through generations.
Dotan Rousso. Holds a Ph.D. in Law—a former criminal prosecutor in Israel. He lives in Alberta and teaches Philosophy at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
