(Ynet News) Korin Elbaz-Alush - Among the stories of heroism that have come to light since Oct. 7 are the reservists who suffered severe injuries in the past, but despite the physical and mental scars, they did not think twice. They put on uniforms and volunteered for reserve duty as soon as the war broke out. Ben Atia, 42, a father of two, was a young soldier in 2000 when a Palestinian terrorist stabbed him in the neck and caused near-fatal injuries. He says today, "I did not hesitate at all. Volunteering for the reserves is important to me....My younger brother is in Gaza. This is what we know: as long as we are alive, we stand up and contribute....I understand that I am not invincible. I know what will happen if I get injured, but that doesn't control me." Moti Dahan, 41, a father of three, was mortally wounded in the Second Lebanon War from a mortar in southern Lebanon. Following that injury, Dahan underwent 17 surgeries on his leg and still has shrapnel in his body. He says, "When I saw what was happening on Oct. 7, I immediately decided to return to the reserves....It was impossible to stop me....This is a war which needs all of us." During his reserve service near Gaza, Dahan hears and sees the evacuation helicopters. "Every helicopter like this that passes over me gives me chills. I understand that there is one person or more, whose life will no longer be the same. I myself visit the wounded and try to strengthen them as much as possible, and I hope that the fact that I am here, on duty, is also something that strengthens and conveys the message that there is life afterwards."
2023-12-28 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive