Sergeant Shir Bitton

Daughter of Ori and Assaf
Sister of Liad and Avia

Granddaughter of the late Rachel Bitton and the late Michelle Bitton and the late Oded Eini and Esther Eini

Shir was born and raised in Ashdod to her parents Ori and Asaf. She is the middle child born between her older brother Liad and her younger sister's Avia.

Shir attended the Keshet Elementary School. Afterwards she attended the "Makif T. Ashdod" school, junior high and high school. She studied in the "Mofet" class intended for outstanding students and during all her years of study she received certificates of distinction and extraordinary distinction. Her matriculation certificate had a particularly high-grade point average, and this achievement was for her an important step on the way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor.

Throughout her childhood, Shir had a warm and loving relationship with her grandfather Oded and her grandmother Esther. She enjoyed visiting them and spending time with them at family meals and holidays. Unfortunately, she did not get to know her paternal grandparents.

Shir was a sociable girl and from an early age was surrounded by friends who maintained a close and warm relationship with her throughout her childhood and into adulthood.

Shir used to help any friend who had difficulty socially or had difficulty with studies. She volunteered at Magen David Adom emergency services for five years, initially as part of a "personal commitment" project at school, but later she volunteered far beyond what was required of her out of a spirit of independent volunteering.

Shir started dancing from a young age and was exposed to various dance styles: ballroom dancing, jazz, "hip-hop" and pole dancing. She was talented in dancing, and it was a pleasant experience to watch her dance. Dancing required her to maintain a healthy lifestyle. She also followed a workout regime in the gym where she loved to lift heavy weights despite being petite.

Shir enlisted in the IDF on November 27, 2022. Her personal stats allowed her to be selected for elite units or for prestigious courses in the technological field that would have benefited her in civilian life after her discharge. But Shir was determined to be selected for the position of medic in the medical corps as she saw this as a natural continuation of her vocation and calling to take care of people and engage in saving lives.

Shir went through bootcamp at Training Base 10 ("Bahad 10") and immediately after she started the medics course. Her medical profile allowed her to be a home front medic only due to being underweight. That's why she made it her goal to gain weight in order to meet the criteria to be accepted for the position of front medic that she strived to qualify for. This role included providing care for wounded soldiers in the field during exercises, operational activity and emergency situations and service in an intensive care vehicle.

After she gained weight, a repeated medical committee approved Shir's request to be assigned to the position of front medic and she was assigned to a regional division in Gaza at the Nahal Oz outpost.

Shir loved her military service and felt she was truly contributing. She also liked the "action" in the intense Gaza sector. However, the service conditions were difficult, and she went home for few vacations. During her vacations she liked to meet with her friends, go to parties and eat the sweet desserts she loved in restaurants. During these vacations she continued to volunteer. She would check in the Magen David Adom app if any help was needed and would assign herself to shifts as needed.

On the "Black Sabbath" on October 7, 2023, Shir sent a message to her family at 06:45 in the morning and informed them that she had found shelter from the terrorists' gunfire in the mobile shelter at the outpost. In the background, bursts of the terrorists' shots were heard. In her message, she said in a steady voice: "Mom, this is Shir, I am recoeding to you from one of the medics' phone with me in the room. I don't know what's going on here. But I love you..."

Shir's family traced her events after the conversation: the terrorists apparently threw grenades into the shelter. Shir managed to leave the shelter and run to her room. She encountered a terrorist at the entrance to the room and managed to eliminate him. When she tried to leave her room around 08:15 in the morning, she encountered terrorists in the corridor and was murdered.

Only two days later, came the bitter news of her fall in the battle for the outpost. Shir's room was completely burned, along with all her personal belongings.

A member of Magen David Adom talked about Shir: "You can't forget Shir's curls and smile, Shir had a presence in every room she entered, always giving the right advice at the right time."

A member of the military medical team said: "Saving lives was a top value for her and she sought to volunteer and help in any way possible. Shir always put others before herself, gave up and gave endless love to every person.'

A classmate said: "Shir volunteered wherever she could to help people, she was an excellent student. Loved dancing and sports, she was the healthiest person I know."

Shir's family has a pet dog named "Sandy". Every time Shir passed by Sandy, she used to pet her, pick her up to caress, kiss and "squish" her affectionately. The two used to sleep together in Shir's bed, hugging each other.

The Magen David Adom organization published a statement after Shir's fall:
Magan David Adom mourns the passing of the late Shir Bitton, 19 years old in her death, a resident of Ashdod, who was killed during a battle with terrorists in the Gaza Envelope.
The late Shir volunteered at the Magen David Adom for four years, did a medic course and from the moment she enlisted she aspired to serve as a front medic, and she achieved her goal when she finished the medic course in the IDF.
Ido Luttati, a friend of the late Shir Bitton: 'Shir was a smart girl, everyone's friend. She did a lot at Magen David Adom, she was a good and caring friend, all her friends and acquaintances mourn her.'
Magen David Adom CEO Eli Bin eulogized the late Shir Bitton: 'Shir was a dedicated medic who contributed a great deal to the State of Israel. The volunteers and employees of Magen David Adom mourn her passing, bow their heads and embrace the grieving family, may her memory be blessed."

Shir's family was interviewed To "Kan Ashdod" and told about the various activities taken for Shir's commemoration in Magen David Adom:
"A month and a half after her death, we started fundraising for the ambulance, and something very moving happened along the way. On 12.30, the date of Shir's birthday, we received a message from the district commander of Magen David Adom and the CEO of Friends of Magen David Adom, that a certain family that we know, but asked to remain anonymous, donated an intensive care car, 2 ambulances, a training class at Magen David Adom that will be named after Shir and tell her story, and a monument in her memory at the station. In addition to this, a week ago, a charity organization donated ambulances to Magen David Adom in memory of its volunteers who fell in battle, and here too there is another ambulance in Shir's memory. The city of Ashdod earned five ambulances, including the ambulance that we raised money for, that will continue Shir's journey, and it is important for us to see these ambulances traveling the roads, hurrying to save lives, continuing Shir's mission. Shir's family raised funds to purchase an intensive care ambulance in her name. Also, generous donors donated additional ambulances in her memory, a training class at Magen David Adom and a memorial.

The Mekif T school dedicated the training days for first aid providers held at the high school to Shir's memory in cooperation with her family. The school also arranged a blood run in her memory in cooperation with 12th grade students and alumni. The purpose of the activity was to raise awareness among youth for volunteering at Magen David Adom, saving lives and contributing to the community while revealing Shir's life story woven with excellence and the spirit of volunteerism. The school said: "We want Shir's legacy to live on... We believe that these events will help raise awareness of the importance of volunteering and contributing to the community and saving lives."


The Yotvata beverages company launched a special line of protein drinks named after Shir.
The drink was distributed at the sports and recreation center in Yavneh where Shir trained.

Shir's close friend, Bar Libov, told the "Ashdodi" newspaper: "She was a medic in Magen David Adom and in the army, she loved medicine so much and dreamed of becoming a doctor. She volunteered wherever it was possible to help people, she was an excellent student, always got 100 grades. She loved dancing and sports, she was the healthiest person I know. Bar wrote the eulogy written below:
"my Shir,
The most beautiful girl in the kindergarten.
With the most beautiful eyes and the most beautiful curly hair.
It's a bit difficult for me to talk about you in the past tense.
It's a little strange to me that you're not here next to me now.
I will tell you about the person you were,
You were the best person I know, smiling, happy, kind in every sense of the word.
You loved life so much.
Every moment you returned from the base you dedicated to us, friends, family, and Magen David Adom.
Just a week ago or so, we talked how soon you will turn 20 and that we should enjoy ourselves while we are young.
Suddenly these words take on a different meaning.
You were my home, my true friend, my confidant.
We cried together, we laughed together.
Wherever you entered, everyone could feel the aura around you, the smile, the emotion.
You loved to dance, you loved to be happy, you loved to save lives, you dreamed of being a doctor.
Bar, can we come and open a vein for you for a second? practice'.
Of course, come. I wish you could come now too.
You were a lioness and a panther, you fought until the last moment, and this is how we will remember you forever.
The best of the best, for all of us.
I promise to immortalize you, in every possible way.
I had the privilege of knowing you and being your friend,
You taught me what unconditional love is and the value of friendship.

Avital Barda, one of her best friends from Magen David Adom, told about Shir: "You can't forget Shir's curls and smile.
Shir had a presence in every room she entered.
Always gave the right advice at the right time.
Shir always put others before herself, gave up when needed, and gave endless love to every person.'

Ashdodi website

On this commemorative page, the links mentioned above are used, as well as materials published in the following links:
kan-ashdod

Ashdodnet

MDA