‘War wounds the human soul’: Injured IDF troops recall horrors of Gaza battles

Times of Israel ^ | July 2024 | AFP / Staff

[CondoleezzaProtege]

When a grenade shredded his leg during a botched hostage rescue mission in Gaza, Israeli soldier Barak wanted to shoot himself to avoid being taken captive by Palestinian terrorists.

But it’s the sound of the grenade exploding that haunts him months later.

His nightmares were amplified by persistent tinnitus, and he described being in a state of “shock all the time.”

Einav Ben Hur, head of social services for the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, has seen the number of cases like Barak’s soar since the start of the war in Gaza.

“I think it is important to provide treatment because we know that the symptoms of this can continue for years,” she said…

From her Tel Aviv office where she coordinates psychological treatment for soldiers, she told AFP, “This is part of the damage that war causes.”

“War wounds the human soul. I don’t think the army can avoid that,” she said.

Saar Ram, a reservist who led a tank unit in Gaza, had his skull broken when Palestinian gunmen sprang out of tunnels to ambush his unit.

But the 29-year-old’s most vivid memory of that day is of what happened to his friends.

“I went there after to look at the tanks, the burned tanks… there were friends of mine who died there, but this (image) of the tank, the burned tank, it’s something I will never forget,” he told AFP.

But Barak, while discreet on his own experience, said there must be a toll.

“You can’t stay balanced if you kill someone. It doesn’t matter if it’s for the right reason or not,” he said.

For now, he has no plans to return to the tech company he founded before the war.

“I have no ambitions in life now, nothing at all… I just want to live.”

[Jeff Chandler]

When I was a young boy I thought I would be brave in battle.

Now I thank God I never had to experience battle.

[frank ballenger]

We almost never hear of IDF soldiers’ sacrifices. Just the number of Gaza people killed when the terrorists used them as human shields or took over a hospital or apartment building to stage battles and store ammunition and put the people in danger.

A Russian I heard on a show once said the Israelis sacrifice their own soldiers by being careful about civilians in the way. He said a Russian invasion would go right through to their objective to spare the Russian soldiers.

But Israel gets NO pats on the back for that policy.

[Harpotoo]

If the brave troops get paid imagine the hostages!

[kawhill]

Ralph Waldo Emerson had a complex view on war, noting it can be a brutal but effective teacher, a force to break up stagnant systems, and an educator that develops character and strength. He believed true and lasting victories are those of peace, arguing that war should have a short day if the rising generation is provoked to virtue. Despite his criticism of war, he saw its ability to clear the ground of “rotten races and dens of distemper” and that “Without war, no soldier; without enemies, no hero”.

[jimwatx]

I’ve read a couple of articles saying that many IDF soldiers are experiencing PTSD. Not surprising considering how long this war has gone on. Hopefully Trump’s peace plan holds up but I’m not exactly optimistic about that. But at least the hostages are finally being released.

[Thank You Rush]

Anyone who reads about these injuries without feelings of sadness is without a soul...all we can do is pray for them and for Israel. I saw Mike Huckabee on TV last night and he looks like he hasn’t slept since he went over there as ambassador. The president couldn’t have picked anyone better. His heart is with Israel...as God directed...