Yossef (Sefi) Genis

Sefi was among the many who hid in an outside shelter on Highway 232, near Re'im, believing they'd be protected from missiles. The small shelter tragically became a death trap. When terrorists arrived, they launched grenades and shot at all those inside. When Sefi and his childhood friend, Gal Navon, heard the gunshots getting closer, they jumped out from the shelter and tried to stop the terrorist with their bare hands and got killed. They saved the life of one woman.

After seeking refuge from an initial rocket barrage originating from the Gaza Strip, Genis messaged his wife, Meital, to reassure her of his safety. Together with Navon, he prepared to head home. However, another rocket struck close to their vehicle, injuring both men and prompting them to seek shelter once more in a nearby public bomb shelter where two women were already present, as Meital informed Channel 12. Despite the chaos, he continued to send messages to Meital and others, alerting them to the escalating danger as the rocket fire subsided, replaced by the ominous sounds of terrorists on foot attacking victims. The last message he sent was a heartfelt "I love you" accompanied by a heart emoji, Meital recalled. Three weeks following the attack, one of the women who had sought refuge in the shelter, identified only as Alina, contacted Meital to recount what unfolded afterward, hailing the pair of friends as "angels" who had safeguarded her life.

A native of Ramat Gan, Sefi demonstrated an early talent for technology. Alongside two friends, he co-founded Firefly, a highly prosperous internet cloud management company.