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How Israel's Veteran Civilians Returned to Battle

(Israel Hayom) Nathan J. Minsberg - In the aftermath of Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, hundreds of Israelis over age 45, many decades past their military service, voluntarily returned to uniform to defend their nation in its hour of need. The Har Zion 0710 Unit "was established overnight, with hundreds of people bringing their specialized all-terrain vehicles to the Gaza envelope area to assist in evacuating the wounded and fallen from the communities and the Nova festival site," Tamar Rein Fishburn, a member of the unit's command staff, explained. "We've developed capabilities for rapid deployment that can save lives....Our teams can access areas conventional military vehicles can't reach, allowing us to transport combat forces, facilitate rescue operations, and move essential equipment through challenging terrain." Beyond emergency response, the unit now supports humanitarian aid convoys and provides crucial mobility support across various operating theaters. The Har Zion Unit exemplifies Israel's civilian response to crisis, where age becomes irrelevant in the face of national need. When faced with existential threats, the distinction between civilian and soldier often blurs in Israeli society, replaced by a simple imperative to serve.
2024-11-10 00:00:00
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