The fierce battle in Sejaiya on Tuesday night resulted in the deaths of ten fighters, one of whom is Colonel Yitzhak Ben Basht, commander of the Golani command center, who was on the verge of being discharged from the IDF but insisted on taking part in the war and returned to service. Ben Basht's coffin was carried at the funeral in the afternoon by six colonels, and was attended by many fighters and commanders of the Golani Brigade throughout the ages.
Among those who said goodbye to "Banaba" were his regular soldiers, whom he first met as MK in August 2000, and since then have fought together and have been known to this day as "Team Banaba". The team members, who eulogized Ben Basht, revealed a recording he recorded in their joint WhatsApp group on one of the first days of the fighting.
"Everything you say is true," he said, "You must not and we must not enter into an atmosphere of cripples, we were surprised, we did a drill, but we have heroes of all ranks and all types and ages, there is no country in the world where sixty-year-old reserve generals come down from nothing and go save people. There is no such country, this is our resilience and return, so you know this, because we are only at the beginning, we have stabilized and from now on we will go on the offensive."
Ben Basht's teammate said goodbye: "In Neva, yesterday when we got the news, we all came to Tal, sat there until 3 a.m. and reminisced. There's no one who didn't want to talk about you today, but you never liked to say too much, so out of respect for you and who you are, I'll try to keep it short."
The funeral of Col. Yitzhak Ben Basht, photo: Shmuel Buchris, small photo: IDF Spokesperson
"More than 20 years ago, you came into our lives. At first as a squad commander with a lot, and maybe a little too much, motivation. And after you returned from officer training you led us as our first team commander in the operational company. And as if 20 years hadn't passed, I remember every day, every moment, how you built us as a team. On an operational level without compromise, and no less than that, you have built a team that to this day is unable to separate from each other."
"It's been 20 years since we were released and still the team at Neva defines who we are, we remain a close-knit family to this day. A team group in Neva is active 24/7, as well as a group of staff members in Neva that has been established over the years. And it's not like you watched our friendship from the sidelines, you were and remain a friend and brother even when you rose through the ranks. You went through teams, companies, battalions and brigades and wherever you were, you always came to every team meeting, every wedding, every trip, and every trip was another reason to get a team shirt in a new Neva, even at the age of 40."
"You managed to touch so many people, with a lot of modesty, at eye level. Just a week ago, on one of the outings, you called me to ask how I was, how Rinat was doing, as if we were the ones fighting non-stop since that Shabbat. And you are always calm, comforting, nothing penetrates you. You are a friend, a commander and a leader. We and many others followed us, followed you through fire and water. They fight alongside you without thinking twice."
"I will conclude with the words you sent us after three days of fighting in which you saved many families. Words that speak to the person you are, the hero you are."
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