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'They Kept Shooting While I Drove': Female Soldiers Recount Near-Death Gaza Ambush

From Jerusalem Post · (6m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Three female IDF soldiers recounted a near-death experience in Gaza where their unarmored jeep came under fire from 11 terrorists.
  • The soldiers were driving alone near Beit Hanun in April 2025 when their vehicle was targeted, leading to it overturning.
  • During the incident, one soldier was killed and two were severely wounded during subsequent rescue operations, while the three female soldiers also sustained injuries.

Three female soldiers from the IDF's Border Protection Corps have bravely shared their harrowing account of a near-fatal encounter in the Gaza Strip, an event that occurred a year ago and left an indelible mark on their lives. Their testimony, broadcast on Channel 12's 'Uvda,' details the terrifying moments when their unarmored jeep was ambushed by 11 terrorists near Beit Hanun. The soldiers, Maj. Nurit Rokach, Linor, and Stav, were on a solo mission, highlighting a critical lapse in operational security that put their lives at extreme risk.

I said several times that I do not want to bring vehicles into Gaza without a convoy.

— StavThe driver recounting the dangerous circumstances of the mission.

Stav, the driver, recounted the intense fear as bullets rained down while she navigated the vehicle, which eventually overturned with the soldiers still inside. The incident underscores the immense bravery and resilience of these soldiers, who faced overwhelming odds. Linor, a medic, expressed her profound frustration at being unable to help her comrades after sustaining severe injuries, including the loss of a leg. Maj. Rokach, the company commander, shared her feelings of helplessness, a sentiment rarely experienced in her previous combat engagements, particularly after being injured by terrorist gunfire on October 7.

I immediately understood that a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at us.

— Maj. Nurit RokachDescribing the moment the attack began.

This account is particularly poignant from an Israeli perspective, as it sheds light on the daily dangers faced by soldiers on the front lines and the psychological toll of conflict. The soldiers' anger towards the military's senior echelons for allowing them to operate without adequate support resonates deeply within a society that places immense value on the safety of its service members. Furthermore, the mention of Maj. Rokach's prior injury on October 7 and Linor's loss of a friend during the Uvda base defense connects this incident to the broader trauma of the Hamas attacks, emphasizing that the threat is ongoing and the sacrifices continue. The story serves as a stark reminder of the realities of security challenges in the region and the courage of those who defend Israel.

It passed through me. You feel a lot of pain.

— LinorRecounting the immediate physical impact of the attack.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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