Israel Recalling NYC Reservists In Preparation For Gaza Operations
Thousands of Israeli military reservists and former soldiers residing in New York City have taken up arms in a united front against Hamas. This response comes in the wake of the shocking October 7 terrorist attack orchestrated by Hamas, which left 1,400 Israeli civilians dead.
More than 3,000 Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reservists have been called up from across the United States to assist in the fight against Hamas, with a significant 2,000 of those reservists hailing from New York City. These reservists, consisting of students, workers, and community members, have left behind their lives and careers in the Big Apple to defend their homeland.
Ariel Nurieli, a 25-year-old former IDF officer and current Columbia University student, didn’t hesitate to abandon his academic pursuits to rejoin the IDF. “People say, ‘Wow, you left everything behind,’ but if we don’t do this, there won’t be anything to come back to,” said Nurieli.
Lihi, a 24-year-old Columbia University student and IDF reservist, says she feels safer on the frontlines than in New York City. She described instances where she was targeted due to her Israeli heritage. “The antisemitic atmosphere permeating her campus and the city ‘was the trigger to be back home,’” she explained.
The fighting spirit of New York’s Israeli community is evident not only in those who have left to fight but also in those who have stayed behind to support the war efforts. Community members have fundraised for vital supplies and even launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the rent of soldiers while they are away fighting.
The conflict itself continues to escalate as Israel expands its ground operations in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s senior adviser, Mark Regev, has promised that Hamas will feel “Israel’s might” as the IDF aims to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities and governance in the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has stated that the ground offensive will be “long and difficult” as it involves dismantling an extensive network of underground tunnels used by Hamas. This expansion of the ground operations is seen as the “next phase” of the war, following targeted attacks carried out by the IDF in the previous days.
The Biden administration has remained tight-lipped about the ongoing conflict and its conversations with Israeli counterparts. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated, “I’m not going to talk about their decision-making process. They have to speak to that, and they have to be able to answer the questions about the soundness of their planning and the effectiveness of their execution.”
The unyielding spirit of New York’s Israeli community is a testament to their commitment to their homeland. As reservists rush to the frontline, those remaining behind rally in support, illustrating the strong bonds that unite this community, irrespective of the physical distance between them and their homeland.
