Mar 9, 2008 - St.-Sgt Liran Banai, 20, of Ashkelon, critically wounded when Palestinian terrorists ambushed an IDF jeep patrolling the Gaza Strip border last Thursday (6 March), died of his wounds in Beersheba's Soroka Medical Center.
Liran Banai, a jeep driver in Givati Brigade's Tzabar battalion, was patrolling the Gaza Strip border when the jeep drove over an explosive device near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, on the Israeli side of the border with central Gaza. An IDF tracker, on patrol with Liran, was killed immediately. The Islamic Jihad and Hamas claimed joint responsibility for the attack. Liran had been fighting for his life at the hospital for three days, after both his legs were amputated in the blast.
Liran, the son of Guy and Galia Banai, who are both deaf and mute, was devoted to his parents and family. "Liran served as our tie to the world, as our voice," explained his father in sign language, adding, "Your mother and I didn't want you to go to the army. But you asked us to respect you, so we let you." Gila's sister, Eliza Depiero, said, "Liran was very important to his parents. He helped them communicate, and also a little in work. Neither of the parents work."
When Liran was an infant, his parents clapped their hands, and when he reacted they knew he could hear. With deaf parents, Liran learned at an early age that there was no point in crying or screaming. Sign language was his mother tongue. When his sister, two years younger, was born, he would tell his parents when she cried. During the Gulf War, Liran, then a small boy, was responsible for telling his parents when he heard a siren.
St.-Sgt. Liran Banai was buried in Ashkelon's military cemetery. He is survived by his parents, Guy and Galia, a sister, Yamit, 19, currently serving in the IDF, and a younger brother, Tamir, 14.