What’s happening:
Lt. Col. Yechiav Amsalem of the IDF’s 605th Engineering Battalion demolished a monument erected by Hamas in central Gaza. This monument glamorized the ‘martyrs’ responsible for a 2014 attack on IDF soldiers.
Why it matters:
The targeted structure served as a symbol of Hamas’s reverence for those who carried out hostilities against Israel, reinforcing a culture that celebrates terrorism. By dismantling this monument, the IDF asserts its rejection of glorification of such acts and reaffirms its commitment to honor the memory of its own fallen soldiers.
The discovery:
During operations in Gaza, Amsalem stumbled upon a monument inscribed with homage to those who attacked and killed Israeli soldiers, including members of his unarmed brigade recognizably mentioned by the number 188. The inscription paid tribute to terrorists involved in the deadly ambush during Operation Protective Edge, taking the lives of Maj. Amotz Greenberg and Sgt. Adar Barsano.
The demolition:
With a personal and symbolic stake in the matter, Amsalem precisely employed explosives to bring down the structure, a task carrying deep significance especially for the relatives of the fallen and the surviving soldiers with traumatic memories from the attacks.
Background:
Hamas persistently aims to immortalize its militants, constructing multiple memorials across Gaza. Ghastly, these edifices denote past conflicts and infamously celebrate the provocative tactics against Israeli citizens and security forces.
Reflection from an officer:
Lt. Col. Amit Tzuman, who was gravely wounded in the same conflict, lauded the quick ceremonial action in demolishing the monument, iterating that their unit decisively retaliates against such symbols of terror, maintaining righteousness and remembrance for those unjustly harmed by terrorism.
Further context and aftermath:
The incident engenders an amplified sense of resilience and camaraderie within the IDF, encapsulating the unequivocal repudiation of terrorist veneration and a relentless pursue of justice and peace sustaining Israel’s national integrity and security.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.