Ari Spitz

Ari Spitz (born 2002) was an Israeli soldier who fought in the Israel Defense Forces who was injured in the Gaza Strip in 2024 during the course of the Gaza War. The injury resulted in the amputation of both of his legs and his right hand. The story of his injury recovery generated significant media coverage in Israel.

Biography

Spitz was born and grew up in Jerusalem, the oldest child of Leah and Gabi Spitz. He attended Noam High School and afterwards went to the Hesder program Yeshivat HaGolan in the city Hisbin in the Golan Heights. There, he was a member of the Ezra Youth Group.

He served in the IDF as a member of the Givati Brigade in the Tzabar regiment. On 27 February 2024, during fighting in North Gaza’s city Zeitoun, he was severely injured in an explosion caused by a booby-trap. As a result, he lost both his legs and his right hand. He was airlifted by helicopter to Siroka Hospital in the Israeli town Beer Shevah, where he was sedated and intubated where he underwent a series of life-saving surgeries.

He regained consciousness after a month and a half in a coma. He was then transferred to Tel HaShomer Hospital for rehabilitation. The course of his recovery received widespread media coverage, which documented his ability to regain the ability to walk with the help of advanced prosthetics.