Hagai volunteered to join a paratroopers unit sent to Gaza during the war. He was shot in the head by a Hamas sniper during a counter-terrorism operation. He has been in a coma since July 21, 2014.
He leaves behind his wife Moriyah, their three children, his parents Chani and Yoni, and seven siblings.
The family lives on Moshav Nov in the Golan Heights.
At the time of his injury, Hagai served as the head of training for the elite Maglan unit. He was slated to take command of the Paratroopers’ prestigious commando unit.
Hagai’s brother, Noam, said, “We are experiencing great pain, though we know that he is no longer suffering, the injury was so severe.”
Hagai’s wife Moriyah recently took part in OneFamily’s five-day retreat to London for family members of people who were severely injured. Being part of a group, she said, provided strong support and helped her “understand that every person is coping with their own problem in their own way, which enables them to take the next breath.”