IDF general visits brigade that lost troops to Shejaiya ambush, vows to soldier on

The head of the IDF Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, meets with commanders of the Golani Brigade in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood, after yesterday’s deadly ambush in the area during which nine soldiers were killed, including two senior commanders.

Finkelman says that “yesterday you proved in practice that ‘After me’ is not a slogan” — a common Hebrew expression symbolizing a leader taking responsibility and leading from the front — “but an order for us commanders to lead forward at the head of the forces, even when there is a heavy, very heavy price.”

“We have great challenges ahead of us. We will continue to attack the enemy as we have done here in Shejaiya and in other places, and we will continue to lead forward as commanders,” he continues.

“You are the generation of victory. You prove it every day all day. We are all inspired by you and the spirit of Golani, which will continue. We will act and win,” Finkelman adds.