Sgt. Yoav Daniel remembered by friends as a "unique kind of goofball"

Daniel was an Israeli MMA champion and competed internationally before joining the Golani Brigade as a combat soldier.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF NOVEMBER 13, 2024 22:52 Updated: NOVEMBER 14, 2024 00:08

Sgt. Yoav Daniel, 19. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

Sgt. Yoav Daniel was killed in battle while fighting in southern Lebanon, the IDF announced on Wednesday.

Sgt. Daniel (19), from Nahariya, served in the 51st Battalion, Golani Brigade. 

"The city of Nahariya shares in the deep sorrow of the Daniel family over the fall of their heroic son, Sergeant Yoav Daniel," a memorial post on the Nahariya Municipality Facebook reads. "On behalf of the city's residents, we wish to embrace and strengthen his parents, Revital and Shachar, his sisters Hadar and Sato, and the entire family during this difficult time."

'A true fighter'

Daniel had a blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu and was an international MMA champion. His home gym in Haifa remembered him in a post on Facebook as "a true fighter, a friend, a brother to many of us, and simply a unique kind of goofball."

"Being around Yoav always meant silly jokes, unexpected taps on the backside at inappropriate moments, and a sense of ease in any situation," Sparta MMA Gym wrote. "He quickly became an integral part of the Sparta family and entered all of our hearts. We saw him just a few days ago, and everyone’s heart is broken."

He leaves behind his parents and two sisters.