How an elite Israeli platoon unified to fight terrorists during Hamas war

EXCLUSIVE — An Israeli soldier described to the Washington Examiner how civilians and his platoon from different backgrounds have come together in a “beautiful” way following the deadly Hamas terrorist attacks, with the common goal of fighting for Israel’s “existence.”

Itai Reuveni, a 40-year-old combat medic in the elite Paratroopers Brigade airborne infantry, said in an interview that Israelis have “put all problems aside,” including politics, in order to unify around their love of country. Since the conflict began on Oct. 7, over 1,400 Israelis have been killed, while injuries in the Jewish state stand at over 5,400. More than 200 people, including Americans, are estimated to be held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. At least 33 U.S. citizens are dead in connection to the war.

LIBERAL DC AG WITH TIES TO DARK-MONEY GIANT ACCUSED OF ‘WEAPONIZING’ POWER TO TARGET CONSERVATIVES

(Provided by Itai Reuveni)

“The best way to look at it is to deeply understand what happened that Saturday will be remembered as one of the biggest breaking points Israel has ever had,” Reuveni, who was called up from the reserves after previous Israel Defense Forces service, including in 2004, described. “We are still in the vengeance and denial phase. We see the pictures, the videos, we read the horrific stories that I cannot even talk about.”

“But we choose to put that aside for a moment, and just go on and finish them,” Reuveni said. “For us, it’s about our existence.”

(Provided by Itai Reuveni)

Reuveni’s brigade, a historic group whose soldiers are instilled with the motto, “Initiate, Lead, Make an Example and Win,” is commanded by Col. Ami Biton, one of the first military leaders to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon him declaring war weeks ago. During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the Paratroopers led a famous operation known as Nightgown Sayeret Tzanhanim, which ended in Israel destroying Iraqi tanks crossing into Israel’s Golan Heights.

Reuveni told the Washington Examiner Monday that Hezbollah presents a “unique” and “more challenging” threat than Hamas to Israel in relation to the 2023 conflict. In a Monday press conference, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer said the country doesn’t “seek an escalation in the north,” though it will “respond” based on if Hezbollah escalates attacks. Hamas says over 8,700 have been killed in Gaza, though national security experts and the U.S. government scrutinize the data as unreliable.

“Day to day, it’s moving from being on high alert to being with the guys on the platoon, spending time together, and having endless coffee, and speaking, talking, laughing, and it’s a very interesting experience,” Reuveni said. “In the platoon, there are people who are 22 years old.”

Because the country has come to a “halt,” one of the “beautiful” things is how civilians are logistically helping the military by providing food, equipment, and even handing over house keys for soldiers to shower, Reuveni said.

“It’s very unusual to see,” he noted. “Like, it’s not the military that was drafted, but all the civilians were drafted. It’s an amazing thing. Whether we are waiting for the war or inside the war, we all feel that we are all the same.”

The reservist also said Druze, an Arab-speaking community that is not Jewish, has been bringing soldiers food from restaurants each day. There are non-Jewish soldiers, as well, Reuveni pointed out.

“The country has just mobilized itself to support the soldiers in war, whether it’s in the north or the south, or in the center, in Judea and Samaria,” Reuveni said.

In recent weeks, there have been reports of Israeli civilians mailing boxes of supplies, including helmets and vests, to the IDF. Basics, such as underwear, toilet paper, food, tents, and beds, have also been mailed to soldiers from Expo Tel Aviv International Convention Center, a volunteer facility. Civilians are also volunteering to help fund rescue missions in southern Israel.

(Provided by Itai Reuveni)

As for Reuveni, his 76-year-old father is volunteering in the border police. Reuveni’s two brothers are in combat units.

“The whole family is drafted, and we stay in touch every day,” Reuveni said. “It’s very interesting to see that when life stops, suddenly you put all problems aside and differences between people. Suddenly, your best friend in the squad who you need to go and fight with, you and him would be fighting about politics two months ago and screaming at each other.”

“We can fight about politics, or whatever, but we understand that eventually, when the order will come, everyone is one body, everyone is for everyone,” he said.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Reuveni added that this war is about “the existence of our people.”

“Hamas wiped out families and tortured people, raped and smashed babies heads, and burned victims alive,” he said. “We are sad and angry, but we are very strong.”