Headline: Rockville Native Killed in Israeli Border Attack by Hezbollah
Subtitle: Omer Balva, a 22-year-old resident of Rockville, Maryland, loses his life serving in the Israel Defense Forces
Rockville, Maryland – Omer Balva, a 22-year-old Rockville native, was tragically killed on Friday by an antitank missile fired from Lebanon by the militant group Hezbollah while serving on the Israeli border. Balva, who had returned to the United States for a vacation, was quickly recalled by his reserve infantry unit in the Israel Defense Forces after Hamas stormed southern Israel, kidnapping hundreds and causing over 1,000 deaths.
Before his return to Israel, Balva and his childhood friend Ethan Missner went shopping to gather supplies for Balva’s unit. They bought knee pads, elbow pads, earmuffs, and other essentials for the 9203rd Battalion of the Alexandroni Brigade. The two friends spent Balva’s last night in the US stuffing a duffel bag full of gear at Missner’s parents’ home in Potomac.
“He was such a loving person,” said Missner, who had known Balva since they were classmates at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville. “He brought a lot of light to the world.”
Balva, who grew up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington with three siblings, had moved to Israel with his parents in 2019. He enlisted in the Israeli military and enrolled in Reichman University. Missner and Balva remained in contact after Balva’s deployment to the Israeli border.
“He said that he could hear bombs dropping at night and it was tough for him to sleep,” Missner shared. “But on par with who Omer is, if anything he was more concerned with how his family was feeling, his girlfriend, me. He didn’t want people to feel sad for him.”
The news of Balva’s death has left the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School community devastated. Rabbi Mitchel Malkus, the school’s head, expressed his sorrow in an emailed statement, saying, “Omer was a beloved student. He was an unabashed advocate for the state of Israel. We mourn his loss.”
Emma Hoch, a 23-year-old classmate of Balva, described him as “vibrant” and someone who lit up any room he entered. Hoch mentioned re-watching Balva’s videos on YouTube, where he recorded their senior trip to Israel, and said, “Omer had a very contagious laugh and just was filled with love.”
Balva’s deep connection to Israel was evident in a class presentation he gave, where he shared his family’s history and his own passion to protect the land. He wrote a letter to Missner when he enlisted, reminding him of the shared experiences they had as children and the future they envisioned as adults.
“He wrote that when he’s having a tough time, he imagines us at 24, 25 with our families on vacation, just being together… That’s the one thought that always put a smile on his face because he wanted to start a family young,” Missner recounted.
Balva’s family, including his father who splits his time between the United States and Israel, could not be reached for comment. As tensions continue to escalate along the Israeli-Lebanese border, the Israeli army has been positioning military forces in the area.
The loss of Omer Balva has deeply impacted both his community in Rockville and the nation of Israel. His sacrifice serving his country will always be remembered, and his memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.
Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff contributed to this report.