Grieving Mother Extends Forgiveness to Soldier Who Killed Her Son

In the midst of unimaginable grief, Hadas Yaffe has chosen a path few could fathom forgiveness.

Her son, Staff Sergeant Ofri Yaffe, an IDF paratrooper, was killed in Gaza after being struck by friendly fire during an engineering operation near Israeli positions. Initial findings by the IDF determined that the fatal shot was fired from a light weapon by a sniper team operating in the area.

As the investigation continues, Hadas revealed that a soldier from the sniper unit reached out to her with an apology on behalf of the sniper and offered condolences to the family.

Her response stunned many.

“The sniper is my son, just like Ofri,” she said. “I will hug him and ask him to continue living his life. I don’t have a gram of anger toward him or toward the sniper team.”

Instead of directing blame, Hadas spoke of unity, compassion, and responsibility toward the living. She said the sniper is expected to meet with the family and expressed hope that he would become part of their extended circle.

“We have three other children, and we promised them that we would remain a happy family,” she said. “Ofri had many friends, and his girlfriend, Roni, will be with us forever. We are not alone in this struggle.”

The sniper who contacted the family reportedly expressed a desire to attend Ofri’s funeral, though it was unclear whether circumstances would allow it.

Ofri Yaffe, from Moshav HaYogev, will be laid to rest surrounded by family, friends, and a grieving community.

Friendly fire incidents are among the most painful tragedies of war moments when heartbreak compounds itself. Yet in her words, Hadas Yaffe offered a profound reminder of shared responsibility and shared humanity within Israel’s tight-knit society.

At a time when soldiers stand shoulder to shoulder defending the country, her decision to embrace rather than condemn reflects the deep bonds that unite Israeli families even in their darkest hours.

May Ofri’s memory be a blessing.

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