Sgt. Tarek al-Ziadne
Dec 12, 2004 - Sgt. Tarek al-Ziadne, 20, of Rahat was one of five IDF soldiers killed when a tunnel filled with 1.5 tons of explosives was detonated under an IDF post at the Rafah crossing, followed by the infiltration of the post by two terrorists who opened fire and activated another explosive device.
At about 5:30 P.M., a bomb went off under the IDF post in charge of securing the Palestinians crossing from the Gaza Strip into Egyptian Rafah, manned by the IDF Beduin Desert Battalion. Two soldiers were killed in the explosion and a third was buried under the rubble and later pronounced dead. Five other soldiers were wounded. Immediately afterwards, two armed Palestinians penetrated the outpost shot and killed two other soldiers. Soldiers returned fire, killing two terrorists. During the evacuation of the wounded, another bomb went off by an armored personnel carrier parked near the outpost, but caused no casualties.
Tarek al-Ziadne was the eldest son of Nuri and Badra al-Ziadne from the Beduin city of Rahat in the Negev. He had nine siblings from his own mother, and six more from his father's second wife, who is pregnant with the seventh. His father Nuri is a well-known building contractor who encouraged his children to serve in the army. Tarek's younger brother enlisted in the Desert Battalion four months ago.
Tarek's uncle Kamel said, "He completed high school with full matriculation. He joined the IDF more than a year ago and it was not his custom to talk much about his service. This coming summer his father was planning to marry him and was building him a home near the family as a wedding gift." Kamel summed up: "He was simply an exception person who loved life. He was killed in the line of duty while serving his country and defending its people."
Sgt. Tarek al-Ziadne was buried in Rahat. He is survived by his parents, Nuri and Badra, and 15 siblings.