Officer wounded in Gaza undercover op that led to flareup released from hospital

An Israeli army officer who was seriously wounded during Sunday’s undercover operation that went awry in the Gaza Strip was released from hospital Friday and will begin rehabilitation work in the coming days.

The officer was badly hurt during exchanges of fire between Israeli special forces and Hamas gunmen near Khan Younis. Another officer, identified only as Lt. Col. “Mem,” was killed during the operation.

Most details of the raid, including the identity of the officer who was killed, remained subject to a military censor and could not be published.

The raid led on Monday and Tuesday to an unprecedented barrage of rockets and mortar shells from the Strip that brought the region to the brink of another war.

Dr. George Greenbarg, head of the Vascular Surgery department at Beersheba’s Soroka Medical Center, said: “After initial treatment at the scene and on the helicopter, the soldier was taken to the hospital, suffering from a gunshot wound.

“After stabilizing him… he was rushed to surgery where we conducted complex surgical procedures. After remaining at intensive care he recovered and was moved for ongoing treatment at the Vascular Surgery department. Today he was released in good condition for rehabilitation.”

On Sunday night, the undercover special forces unit traveled several kilometers into the Gaza Strip.  At some point during the operation, the troops were exposed, intercepted and clashed with local Hamas fighters, killing a senior commander and six other gunmen.

The IDF unit called in aerial support — aircraft to bomb the surrounding area — and made its away out of the Gaza Strip. Beyond “Mem” and the wounded officer, no other Israeli troops were hurt.

By Monday the wounded soldier had regained consciousness and was said to not be in life-threatening danger.

After he regained consciousness, his wife and children were allowed to see him for a short time. His mother, who was also at the hospital intensive care unit where he is being treated, told Hadashot news Monday of her relief that he was still alive.

“I pray that my son recovers as soon as possible,” she said. “It is a miracle that I got him back alive. I couldn’t bear to see his children, my grandchildren, crying. It was hard. I left the room.”

Education Minister Naftali Bennett also paid a visit to the officer at the hospital and declared that the deceased soldier and his wounded comrade were “national heroes.”

“I send my deepest condolences to the family of Lt. Col. Mem, and wish a speedy recovery to those wounded,” Bennett said.

The wounded officer’s brother told Hadashot news: “The whole family and I are praying for his health. “We believe God is watching over him. We want to thank all the people who are interested in his welfare.”

Following the operation over 460 rockets and mortar shells were fired at southern Israel by Hamas and other Gaza terror groups over the course of around 24 hours. The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted over 100 of them. Most of the rest landed in open fields, but dozens landed inside Israeli cities and towns, killing one person — a Palestinian man who was in Ashkelon — injuring dozens and causing significant property damage.

In response, the Israeli military said it targeted approximately 160 sites in the Gaza Strip connected to the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups, including four facilities that the army designated as “key strategic assets.”

The fighting ended on Tuesday after a Hamas-announced ceasefire took effect, though this was not officially confirmed by Israel.

The decision to halt attacks on Gaza was criticized by many in Israel and was cited by Avigdor Liberman in his decision Wednesday to resign as defense minister, a move expected to bring early elections for the Knesset.