Freed Israeli Prisoner: “We almost died from the Israeli army’s shelling, but we were saved at the last moment.”
In a significant critique, four Israeli female soldiers, who were held captive for over 15 months by Hamas in Gaza, have voiced harsh criticisms against the Israeli Forces following their release. These soldiers, who served as observers, were captured on October 7, 2023, during a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel and were released in January under a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
According to Channel 12 in Israel, a tense meeting occurred this Friday between the freed soldiers and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. The meeting was described as “highly tense at times,” where the soldiers repeatedly criticized the IDF’s conduct leading up to the October 7 attack.
One soldier reportedly questioned Halevi, “How can you say you knew nothing (about Hamas’ attack)? How did you not prepare for this attack? How did this happen? We warned you all. We s aw it with our own eyes. We did our job as required and warned, but you dismissed us.” This statement reflects the soldiers’ frustration over what they perceive as the military leadership’s negligence, despite their repeated warnings about Hamas intensifying activities along the Gaza border before the assault.
Halevi responded by acknowledging that dismissing soldiers in such a manner was “unacceptable,” emphasizing that all commanders should treat every soldier and complaint with utmost seriousness. He praised the soldiers for their commendable service.
However, the soldiers felt abandoned. One of them stated, “You left us alone. Our comrades in the base fought alone, and no one came to rescue us.” Another soldier criticized the IDF’s tactics in the Gaza war, saying, “During our captivity in Gaza, there were times we were saved at the last moment. We nearly died due to the Israeli military’s shelling.”
This incident sheds light on the internal criticisms within the IDF and the complexities of military operations in conflict zones, highlighting the need for better preparedness and response to intelligence.
