Yeshayahu (Sheika) Gabish, a legendary commander in the IDF, passed away at the age of 99. Gabish was one of the most prominent figures in the history of Israel’s security system, and served in senior positions throughout critical historical periods.
In 2016, Gavish gave a special interview to Israel Hayom.
Yeshayahu Gavish was born in 1925 in Tel Aviv to a family of Latvian origin, and began his military career at the age of 18 when he joined the Palmach. He participated in many important battles, including the Night of the Bridges and other critical operations in the War of Independence. Despite being wounded in the Battle of Malakia, he returned to the battlefield and served as a senior commander later in the fight.
In a beret and dust glasses, champion Shaika Gvish, photo: Alex Egor/in the camp
During his military career, Gabish was responsible for key command positions. Among other things, he served as the head of the operations branch at the General Staff and was one of the leaders in the planning of Operation Kadesh.
A letter to the soldiers before entering Sinai, photo: Shaika Gabish
But the peak of his service came in the Six Day War, when he commanded three divisions that occupied the Sinai Peninsula. After the war he commanded the construction of the fortifications in Sinai. His commanding abilities and the resourcefulness he demonstrated under combat made him a revered figure among his soldiers and colleagues.
Major General Isaiah (Sheika) Gabish, Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Yitzhak Rabin, Photo: Bnei Hadar in the camp / Courtesy of the IDF Archives at the Ministry of Defense
After his release from the IDF in 1970, Gabish continued to contribute to the State of Israel in managerial positions. He served as CEO of “Kor Metal” and later as CEO of the entire Kor concern, until his retirement in 1988. In the public sphere, Gabish was one of the founders of the Palmach Museum and served as chairman of the Palmach Generation association.
Shaika Gabish, photo: Moshe Shay
Over the years Gavish was recognized for his work, and in 2018 he was invited to light a beacon at the beacon lighting ceremony on the country’s 70th Independence Day. In 2019 he was awarded the title of Beloved of the City of Ramat Hasharon, and in 2022 he received the Herzog Award together with Amos Horev, for a unique contribution to the State of Israel.
Sheika Gabish and David Ben-Gurion, photo: Moshe Shay
Gabish was married to Gita, from 1949 until her death in 2023. The couple has two sons, who continue their lives in different ways.
Shaika Gabish, photo: Gideon Markovich
During his lifetime, he published his autobiographical book, “Red Sheet”, in which he described his life full of dramatic events and influential moments in the country’s history. Upon his passing, Gebish leaves behind an impressive legacy of service to the country, both in the army and in civilian life.
were we wrong We will fix it! If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us
