Testimony From Gaza: “We Felt Like Sitting Ducks”
Testimony From Gaza: “We Felt Like Sitting Ducks”After leaving the Gaza Strip, soldiers are raising their voices and are talking about the reality on the ground.
Some of them talk about how the humanitarian cease-fires “aided Hamas” and “loosen the army”, others claim frustration under an incessant rain of mortar shells.
Aug 17, 2014, 03:49PM | Jerusalemonline Staff
via Israel News – Testimony From Gaza: “We Felt Like Sitting Ducks” – JerusalemOnline.
After removal of ground forces from the Gaza Strip and the start of implementation of the first IDF investigations, now comes the evidence – these reservists were called to the area briefly, fought, and lost friends along the way. A testimony of one of the forces operating in the Gaza Strip has been obtained by Channel 2 Online, and may shed some light on the behavior and the atmosphere is one of the combat units and the feelings of the soldiers the day after the battle.
During the operation, a unit from Battalion from Training Base 1 was based in al-Atatra in the northern Gaza Strip. This is a special unit that was called for reserve duty and fought throughout the operation, leaving their families and children at home. “During the operation there was a phase in which the humanitarian cease-fire was continuously extended,” said fighters. “The IDF withheld fire, and the terrorist approached us and improved their attitudes.”
According to one soldier, during the humanitarian cease-fires, which lasted several hours, it was an absurd situation where the soldiers found themselves under constant fire, but could not ask for artillery or air support. “There was a flood of mortars, it is a miracle that they did not hurt anybody,” he said. “We were just sitting ducks and the feeling of frustration was difficult. We kept waiting for the air force to come and hit the terrorists who fired at us, but that did not happen – perhaps for fear of harming innocent people, perhaps for reasons that were not told to us”.
According to the fighters, just as soon as the humanitarian cease-fire expired, the IDF returned to responding with force – which led to an end to the mortars and fleeing of terrorists.
Soldiers: We Asked for Covering But Did Not Receive
After a week of fighting, the soldiers received a message that they are replaced by another. “We talked to the battalion commander who visited us and we asked him for cover as we exited as a shield from Hamas fire,” said one of the fighters.
Minutes after the company started to move towards Israel, a heavy barrage of mortar shells began to fall. “Five were injured. Only by a miracle there were no fatalities, by a miracle,” they said. “It broke a lot of soldiers, contempt on the one hand and helplessness on the other hand – we were in shooting range and the IDF did not respond.”
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