On the way home after the difficult days in the reserves, we sat over coffee with three fighters in the three sectors – Gaza, Judea and Samaria and the north. This is what it looks like (watch the video at the top of the page)
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"The feelings are good. We are united together throughout the company. This is what strengthens us together with the home front," shared Staff Sgt. (res.) Nadav Elkais, a sergeant major and soldier in Battalion 8202, who returned from Gaza after almost 90 days. Alongside the encounters with terrorists, Al-Qays referred to terrorist infrastructures that are exposed every day. "Our enemy has come to surprise us. They're trying to catch us where we're not ready, but they're wrong."
On the continuation of the fighting, he shared: "First of all, our mission is to bring back the hostages and bring down Hamas - that's what we're doing and that's what we're striving for."
Sergeant Major (res.) Or Meir, Battalion Commander 8109, who reported for reserve duty in the Judea and Samaria sector, also shared firsthand about the arrests of wanted persons that are carried out every day. "We came in very aggressively. We wanted to show them who owns the house. This, of course, is reflected in the arrests of terrorists and wanted persons."
"The missions are to bring back the hostages and topple Hamas." From right to left: Iyer, Nadav and Or, photo: Yehoshua Yosef
Meir emphasizes that the complexity of the fighting is very difficult because it takes place within a civilian population. "We have daily friction with them. We encounter a lot of things that surprise us, like chargers waiting for us. They understand that we have no other way to deal with this."
While hand-to-hand fighting is taking place in the other two sectors, in the north the situation is different, with Hezbollah threatening mainly rocket fire. Sergeant Major (res.) Iyer, a combat soldier in Platoon 205, shares the nature of the fighting. "Of course, we are waiting for every scenario and preparing for an attack as well." According to him, "The IDF has been training for years and knows what its missions are in the north."
Life Itself
Many reservists have already spent months in the army, far from their families and work. Many of them don't even know what they are entitled to from the state, what grants they are entitled to receive, and how to calculate their eligibility. The state has announced the launch of an aid program, but for reservists who are at war, this is sometimes an overflow of information that is difficult to track and understand exactly what they deserve.
"We make a lot of sacrifice. The aid grants that speak in the government can only help and uplift us. It is also important for us to receive this help," Nadav stressed.
As noted, the grant program for reservists – announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Yoav Galant and revealed in Israel Hayom – was approved last week at a cabinet meeting. The NIS 9 billion plan will be implemented in three phases. As part of the current phase, NIS 1.5 billion was allocated for a broad grant and a family grant for November-December, a grant that can reach up to NIS 3,900 for a reservist with a family.
Or, who has been released for two years, shared: "First of all we were called for an order day. As for the grants, in the end this is not the time to look at it, we have to continue fighting. Of course, the assistance helps, but right now we're looking forward."
Students are also forced to think about their future during the war. Iyer, a third-year economics and philosophy student, fears being left behind after the decision of some institutions of higher education to open the school year: "I don't know what's going on with me. They didn't talk to me, I just know they published an outline, but they didn't update me on anything. My friends are studying, and I don't even have a way to learn. I hope I don't miss this year."
Homesickness
Like Iyar, Nadav and Or, hundreds of thousands of civilians left their private lives when the fighting began and enlisted in the reserves. They left home, family and work behind, and reported to the various bases to play a vital role in protecting their home. "I miss my wife and daughter deeply," Nadav said ahead of his expected arrival home. "As soon as we jumped, we didn't think twice. Our women are heroes and they support us."
Iyer adds: "Family is everything, they give us the strength to keep going. We feel that the home front is forced to experience more difficulty," he says. "They see every day what's happening in the news and in the world, it really affects the psyche. We avoid hearing about it."
In the midst of the chaos, pain and bereavement, dozens of projects have arisen in recent months by citizens and private businesses that just want to help and contribute to the soldiers. "It starts with letters from children in kindergarten to food and supplies that reach us. It's a real boost. To see the people united like this is something that gives us strength to move forward," the three shared. "People come to us from all corners of the country and contribute to us. It's not a given."
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