Americans Max Steinberg, Nissim Sean Carneli killed by Hamas in Gaza, fighting for Israel

Two Americans fighting for the Israel Defense Forces were killed in the Gaza Strip battle according to new AP reports on Sunday.

Max Steinberg, 24, and Nissim Sean Carmeli, 21, were both killed in battle in the Gaza Strip. Officials from  the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles visited families on Sunday to break the news of the men’s deaths.

Max Steinberg photo/Facebook

Stuart Steinberg last spoke to his son at 4 a.m. Saturday California time, hours before his death. Max called his father to tell him that his group had been injured when two of their tanks collided. They had to return to Israel for treatment at the hospital. Some soldiers had broken bones, and Max Steinberg had sprained his back, his father said.

“He called me up at 4 a.m. that morning and said he’d be returning to Gaza, back to combat, to be with his friends,” Steinberg said.

“He went back,” Steinberg said. “He was completely dedicated and committed to serving the country of Israel. He was focused, he was clear in what the mission was, and he was dedicated to the work he needed to be doing.”

Jay Sanderson, who heads The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, said in an email message to the community that “our thoughts are with his family and our community is committed to support them in any way they need – and to honor Max’s memory.”

Earlier Sunday, the IDF said in a statement that Sgt. Nissim Sean Carmeli, 21, was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip. Carmeli was from South Padre Island, Texas, said Deputy Consul General of Israel to the Southwest Maya Kadosh. She said Carmeli moved to Israel four years ago and added that the consulate helped his family get a flight there Sunday.

Rabbi Asher Hecht of Chabad of the Rio Grande Valley, who is a longtime family friend, said Carmeli joined the Israeli army after finishing high school in Israel and was in the Golani Brigade. The IDF statement said Carmeli was from Ra’anana, Israel.

“He had great energy, yet had a kind and gentle soul,” Hecht said. “It’s been a very tough day for us,” he added. “We lost a gem.”

Carmeli was the youngest of three and has two sisters who currently live in Israel. He was “loved by his parents infinitely,” Hecht said.

Nissim Sean Carmeli photo/Facebook