If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it: somewhere in the area surrounding Gaza, under the nose of the large IDF, an operation is underway to upgrade the level of protection of thousands of soldiers.
Documentation: Weapons and terrorist equipment found in homes operating in Gaza // IDF Spokesperson
Since the equipment many of them received from the army is inadequate, good people from America give them Kalashnikov-proof helmets, ceramic vests, armored backpacks, tactical uniforms, telescopic sights, G-market watches, and winter clothes for heating – free of charge, and according to the strictest American standard.
Behind the operation, which is reminiscent of the arms smuggling operations to Israel during the War of Independence, stands one Jewish community from the New York area, in a worldwide operation aimed at saving lives: "Am Yisrael Chai" - that's what they call the project, which developed quite by chance. At this point, its members do not want to be exposed. "You see, I'm not a 'professional Jew.' I've never been involved in fundraising for Israel or the IDF, and I don't think that's my job either. But this is about saving soldiers' lives and I can't sit still," says David (not his real name), the spirit behind the operation.
"It's about saving soldiers' lives." Herzi Halevi with soldiers at the conference grounds, photo: IDF Spokesperson
"It's terrible, where's Bibi?"
We head south in a van taxi, crammed with huge bags full of expensive equipment. He is about 30 years old, a resident of the New York area, a clothing manufacturer in everyday life. When the war broke out, he received dozens of tactical uniforms from a non-Jewish American colleague for the New York National Guard. The same manufacturer sold them to David and his friends at a cost price, as a gesture of aid to Israel. The community raised the money.
This is how the first partition operation was carried out, at the beginning of the war, but it soon became clear that the needs were much greater than comfortable uniforms. "From a conversation with a relative, a regular soldier who entered Gaza, I understood that his helmets and those of his friends were old and not up to standard. I got them new helmets from the US Army, which are immune to 7.62mm bullets. We tested them to see that they met the standard and brought them them. Word began to spread, more and more requests came to me, and since then they haven't stopped flowing."
"Sending soldiers with substandard equipment." David and the soldiers, photo: Ariel Kahane
We continue on the way to the envelope, and David announces that the first stop will be Zikim. While driving there, more and more requests land on his WhatsApp. One of them, from a deputy team commander in the 80th Brigade: "We managed to achieve many things that we lacked, but two main things we still need: tactical helmets (which are lighter and therefore we can operate with them better) and lighting kits for night/face identification. The military provided pretty inefficient kits, where we can't replace batteries, but have to charge through a socket. If we can help with those, that would be great."
And another: "Hey man, can you help my team with this? Red scoring sights, Trigiconian mirrors, laser aims, rifle lights, Mitch ballistic helmets, sleeping bags." It's been like that for two months. David's response to the callers is "I'd be happy to help," even though he is furious with the army. "I don't understand how soldiers are sent in with substandard equipment that endangers lives. It's terrible. Where is Bibi? Where is the defense minister?"
Shortage of vests (illustration), photo: IDF Spokesperson
Eleven shipments they have already brought into the country. Donations are collected in the United States and equipment is purchased there. Community members bring it with them to Israel, arrange and store it according to characteristics and dimensions. Once every few days, a trip goes to the envelope, where the soldiers meet with the anonymous donors and get what they need.
So far, $1.5 million has been purchased, 4,000 tactical helmets, 25,<> pieces of clothing, including tactical uniforms and fireproof overalls, and winter gear. The soldiers on the northern border also received deliveries. Some of the clothes were given to residents of the envelope in the hotels, who "left home for a week" and were left penniless. David and his friends save them.
The enthusiasm knows no bounds
Our first meeting is with a Magellan reserve unit, which is attached to one of the brigades operating in Gaza. Somewhere near Zikim, a taxi stops. The Magellans are waiting on the side of the road. They say only half have tactical helmets, while the rest walk around wearing helmets that are at least 15 years old.
Magellan Unit fighters in action (archive), photo: IDF Spokesperson
Without losing time, David unloads the new equipment and asks the soldiers to measure it. The enthusiasm knows no bounds. "At the beginning of the war, our commander said not to collect donations because it doesn't respect the army, but we saw that everyone else was doing it and protected properly, so we asked for it too," explains one of them.
The quality gaps between the accessories David brings and those of the soldiers cry out to the sky. The soldiers and we compare the old, permeable and uncomfortable helmets with those brought from the United States. The soldiers' happiness, and their gratitude, are great. Then they get coats, G-market watches and telescopic sights.
During the division, another team of soldiers arrives, and their needs are also met. With the help of Micah, the smart taxi driver who closes the ends in cases of misunderstanding and brief communication, the group films a short video to be sent to the community to show them where the money is going and how satisfied the soldiers are. It ends with the words: "The people of Israel are alive."
IDF soldiers holding an Israeli flag near the Gaza border, Photo: Reuters
The IDF is not really aware of the scope of the operation, and claims that the equipment distributed to soldiers meets the strict standard, but the question is what the standard is, since in my eyes I have seen helmets that are 15 or even 35 years old. When the defense minister, for example, enters Gaza, he wears them not but tactical helmets, such as those David and his friends provide to soldiers.
The first shipment ends, and we proceed to the following stations: Camp Reim, Tze'elim, Kibbutz Be'eri, and so on until evening. David lists to me the only ones who contacted him during these two months. It turns out that they were all his sons - the General Staff, 669, the cruisers. The numbers of reserve units thrown into the air and the countless pictures show that everything is true. The donations and logistics organized by the New York community literally save lives. Indeed, the people of Israel are alive.
IDF soldier with an Israeli flag, photo: Yossi Zeliger
The IDF Spokesperson's response: "The IDF works night and day to provide an envelope of equipment for regular and reserve IDF soldiers, from personal protective equipment and weapons to winter equipment. All equipment is inspected and distributed according to prioritization according to the missions of the forces. To date, the procurement of combat equipment for thousands of ceramic vests, means of stay, winter equipment and more has been accelerated, and a number of regional logistics centers have been deployed to improve the response to forces on the ground.
"The Technology and Logistics Division works to provide every soldier with the necessary operational equipment. Gaps that arise are examined and dealt with accordingly. In addition, the IDF has opened a call center available 24/7 for IDF service members, for any logistical gap that arises in the field, at 052-6156256."
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