He rushed from Maryland to Israel to fight. On Friday, he was killed.

Omer Balva, a 22-year-old Rockville native, was back from his home in Israel. Then, during his U.S. vacation earlier this month, Hamas stormed southern Israel, kidnapping hundreds and killing more than 1,000. Balva’s reserve infantry unit in the Israel Defense Forces quickly recalled him. But before his return, he wanted to gather supplies he knew that soldiers in his unit might need.