Ezra Yakhin

Ezra Yachin (: born June 11, 1928) is an Israeli soldier and former member of Zionist paramilitary group Lehi. Yachin participated in the Deir Yassin massacre during the 1948 Palestine war.

Statements made by Yachin during the Gaza war in 2023 have been cited as evidence of intent and incitement in the Gaza genocide. During one of his missions, Yachin and his friends were ambushed by British police and shot at, but they managed to escape. Yachin's best friend, Alexander Rubowitz, was kidnapped and tortured to death by British officer Roy Farran and a group of Special Air Service soldiers.

Military career

Lehi Throughout his service for Lehi, Yachin became a fighter and participated in multiple armed attacks against British authorities. He took part in a failed mission to assassinate British general Gordon MacMillan using explosives, during which Yachin and other fighters were almost surrounded.

Yachin defended Jerusalem against the Arab forces in the 1948 Palestine war. He works as an educator for the IDF. In 1979, Yachin published several memoirs. In 1992, Yachin published a book titiled ELNAKAM: Story of a Fighter for the Freedom of Israel, which talked about his life. The Hebrew version of the book was popular and was reprinted eight times. In 2011, American TV series Against All Odds featured Yachin in an episode titled A Boy Named Ezra.

Gaza war and genocide

With the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023 Yachin was called up for military service at the age of 95. He is considered to be the oldest reservist in Israel. Yachin did not participate in combat and instead boosted morale of IDF soldiers fighting in the Gaza Strip by giving motivational speeches.

Yachin adressed IDF soldiers in October 2023, stating:

This speech was used in South Africa's genocide case against Israel as evidence of intent and incitement in the Gaza genocide.

In May 2024, Yachin lighted a torch at Torch-lighting Ceremony celebrating 76th year of Israel's indepencence. In June 2024, Yachin was promoted to Command Sergeant Major. In February 2026, Yachin was awarded the "Roaring Lion for Bravery and Zionism" at a conference in Knesset commemorating the 106th anniversary of the Battle of Tel Hai.

Personal life Following the 1948 Palestine war, Yachin began working as a clerk and later founded an art gallery in Jerusalem which he closed in the 1990s. In 1968, Yachin founded Beit Hashiva, a building in Beit Hanina neighborhood where he lives. Yachin has a son, Ariel Yachin.