Yesterday, the IDF Spokesperson stated the obvious: the IDF endangers the lives of combatants in order to reach the abductees, including the bodies of abductees.
The degree of risk in such operations varies. Sometimes it can be assessed in advance, and sometimes not. The operation in which ISA fighters rescued soldier Uri Magidish from the apartment where she was being held in Gaza was conducted at very high risk. Still, it was decided that the return of a kidnapped animal justified this risk, at the end of which fighters might have been killed or taken prisoner.
The bodies are brought to Israel, Photo: IDF Spokesperson
A similar decision was made last week, when it was decided to send fighters to an operation to free another abductee, who was believed to have been held in a certain building. This operation was exposed, and in the exchange of fire that ensued, two fighters were wounded. The abductee himself was killed, and the IDF later determined that he had been murdered prior to this operation.
In recent weeks, there have been quite a few such operations, which have not yielded results. Some were carried out at high risk, some less, some were part of other activities or during the fighting to destroy Hamas forces and terrorist infrastructure. This was the case in the operation during which the bodies of Eden Zakaria and Ziv Dado were found, and which claimed the lives of fighters Gal Meir Eizenkot and Eyal Meir Berkowitz.
As for Dado, it was officially announced that he was killed on 7 October and that his body had been abducted to Gaza. Zachary was believed to have been murdered, but there was no official evidence until her remains were located in Gaza, brought to Israel and identified at the Institute of Forensic Medicine. Her mother, Orin, believed until the last moment that her daughter was alive. Despite the tragic outcome, dissolving doubts was essential for her and to ensure that her daughter would not remain an "open case" forever.
Staff Sgt. (res.) Gal Meir Eizenkot z"l and Sgt. (res.) Eyal Meir Berkovich z"l, fell in an operation that enabled the recovery of the bodies of the abductees, photo: IDF Spokesperson
Ostensibly, there is a dilemma here between the living and the dead, and how far one must go to reach those who have died. Here, too, the answer is almost self-evident: the IDF abandoned the security of the envelope on 7 October, and the security of all those kidnapped. It is his duty to turn over every stone in order to close a circle. It is morally correct, and it is humanely correct - in order to allow the family a grave to reach it. Moreover, leaving "files open" on the issue of abductees is liable to accompany Israel for many years, perhaps forever. If you like - Ron Arad as a parable. What was at hand at one moment may disappear and never return, and then it will have to pay, invest or risk many times more in failed and costly attempts to bring information or a solution.
These are daily dilemmas that the war in Gaza brings with it. They may be more difficult, for example, if it is necessary to decide on the assassination of senior Hamas figures, knowing that they surround themselves with abductees. There is no need to envy those who are required to make these decisions and live with their consequences afterwards, but this too is part of this accursed, complex and vital campaign.
The war in Gaza has two overarching goals: defeating Hamas and returning the hostages. Both are equally important, and both should coexist. The State of Israel promised the families to do everything: it is possible to argue what this concept is - everything - including within it, but this pair of words requires at least going to the limit of reasonableness, and a little beyond it. This is what the IDF and Shin Bet are doing, and they deserve all praise for it.
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