Solidarity and the grief of thousands of Israelis

More than 1,200 Israelis were killed in the October 7 massacre known as "Black Sabbath." The tragedy involved about 250 active soldiers, and the rest were civilians, from babies to the elderly. Hamas declares all Israeli citizens as legitimate targets, including those who are inactive and too young for military service. The state of Israel is still digesting the horrors of that date, in which more than 1,200 people were killed, about 240 were taken hostage by Hamas, and many others are still missing. Identification of the victims became difficult as some of the bodies were severely damaged by the brutal attack.

Israelis, both those who are still serving and those who have finished their service, see the IDF as a citizen army whose mission is to protect the homeland and its people. Solidarity was evident in the support of hundreds of people who arrived to commemorate 19-year-old Sergeant Roni Eshel, one of the missing in the events. The confirmation of his death by the IDF took 35 days, leaving his family in deep mourning. Eshel's family revealed that before his death, he had warned his superiors about plans for a Hamas attack, but his warnings were ignored. The Observer Unit at Nahal Oz, composed mostly of non-combatant female soldiers, suffered heavy casualties in the attack. Military funerals are not only a stage for remembering the victims but also a place where family and friends express disappointment at the inaudibility of warnings and border insecurity. This event united the Israeli public in grief, highlighting the importance of listening and uniting to protect national security. Since the start of the ground operation in Gaza, more than 50 Israeli soldiers have been killed in action. Source : Thousands grieve together for slain civilians and soldiers alike - Defense News - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)