‘Ashamed’ officers said to tell residents of south: We hope to die on Gaza battlefield

Senior IDF officials, in conversations in recent days with residents of the south regarding the Hamas slaughter on October 7, have highlighted their sense of “shame” for having failed to protect the citizens, Channel 12 reports.

“We hope to die on the battlefield, in Gaza,” it quotes unnamed senior officers saying, “because we are ashamed that we abandoned you. We are dying of shame as it is, so at least we’ll die in an effort to protect you as needed and to restore your sense of security. We promise you that we will win this war.”

Less bleakly, the IDF releases a recording of Israel’s ground forces chief, Maj.-Gen. Tamir Yadai, and Air Force Commander Tomer Bar, both flying over Gaza, speaking with an unnamed officer on the ground below.

Commander of the IDF Ground Forces Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai (right) and Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar are seen near a plane operated by the IAF’s 100th Squadron at the Hatzor airbase, November 5, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

Bar asks the officer on the ground, “Do you need any assistance? We are above you.”

The unnamed officer responds: “I’ve been getting everything I need for the past week… I know that you’re with us, together with our fighters and all of Israel.”

Yadai in turn praises all of the IDF reservists who have left home to fight. “We’re very proud of them, and we’ll do whatever is needed so that they can carry out their mission.”