‘The best of our sons’: Israeli officials mourn deaths of 21 IDF reservists in Gaza
Lawmakers from both coalition and opposition express condolences to families of deceased soldiers, vow that they won’t have died in vain
The war against Hamas in Gaza “will determine the future of Israel for decades to come,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Tuesday morning in a somber statement as the Israel Defense Forces announced the deaths of 21 reservist soldiers in central Gaza a day prior.
“The fall of the soldiers compels us to achieve the goals of the fighting,” Gallant wrote on X. “Our hearts are with the dear families in their most difficult time.”
Reactions poured in from politicians after the single deadliest event since the start of the military’s ground offensive. The troops came under attack by RPG fire, which hit a tank and apparently triggered an explosion that caused the collapse of two two-story buildings in southern Gaza, where mines had been planted by soldiers ahead of a controlled demolition.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a statement mourning “one of the most difficult days since the outbreak of the war.”
“I wish to strengthen the dear families of our heroic fighters who fell on the battlefield. I know that for these families, their lives will be changed forever.
“I mourn for our fallen heroic soldiers, I embrace the families in their time of need and we all pray for the recovery of the wounded,” he added. “The IDF has launched an investigation into the disaster. We must learn the necessary lessons and do everything to protect the lives of our fighters.”
אתמול חווינו את אחד הימים הקשים ביותר מאז פרוץ המלחמה.
אני מבקש לחזק את המשפחות היקרות של לוחמינו הגיבורים שנפלו בשדה הקרב. אני יודע שעבור המשפחות הללו, חייהן ישתנו לעד.
אני דואב על חיילינו הגיבורים שנפלו. אני מחבק את המשפחות בשעת יגונן וכולנו מתפללים לשלום פצועינו.
צה״ל…
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 23, 2024
“In the name of our heroes and for the sake of our lives, we will not cease fighting until absolute victory,” he concluded.
Echoing the sentiment expressed by Netanyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said that the deaths of the reservists made it “clearer than ever” that Israel must not deescalate combat operations in the Gaza Strip.
Calling it a “difficult and painful morning,” the hard-right politician declared that “we must continue to subdue, crush and mow down the Nazi enemy in Gaza, with all our might.”
“The blood of hundreds of our best sons” was not shed “in vain,” he continued. “I hope we will be worthy of them and fulfill their will that was written in blood — crushing and destroying Hamas and returning all the hostages. May their memory be blessed.”
Ben Gvir’s fellow coalition hardliner Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich similarly promised that the deaths of the soldiers “would not be in vain.”
“These heroes are the pillar of fire before the camp,” he said, referencing the biblical story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt and journey across the desert to Israel. “They pave the way for us to continue this moral campaign of the people of Israel, until we achieve victory in the face of evil, until we cut through the darkness.”
War cabinet minister Benny Gantz called for the public to remain united in the face of the heavy losses suffered in Gaza, and to remember the cause for which the soldiers fell — to secure the country and ensure the return of the hostages seized by Hamas on October 7, some 132 of whom are still held captive in Gaza.
“Especially today, we are giving our backing to all IDF soldiers and their commanders. We are all behind you,” he said.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said that it was “an unbearably difficult morning” amid the news of the heavy losses.
“Heroes of Israel, lovers of the land, its defenders,” he wrote of the 21 soldiers.
“I send a hug to the families of the fighters. The entire nation of Israel is with you in your difficult time. May their memories be a blessing,” he added.
In a statement, hawkish opposition lawmaker and Yisrael Beytenu chair Avigdor Liberman offered his condolences to the families of the fallen.
“We bow our heads and salute our heroic warriors who sacrificed their lives in defense of the homeland,” he wrote.
Mourning the deaths of the soldiers, President Isaac Herzog lamented the growing list of names “added to the gravestones of heroes in this war that is the most just war possible.”
בוקר קשה מנשוא, בו עוד ועוד שמות של טובי בנינו – מגש הכסף במלוא מובן המילה – מתווספים למצבת הגבורה, במלחמה שאין צודקת ממנה.
מאחורי כל שם נמצאת משפחה שעולמה חרב עליה באחת, משפחה שאנו מאמצים אל ליבנו ביגון ובכאב, ובה בעת בגאווה – על גבורת הדור, על השליחות והרעות, על הדבקות במטרה…
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) January 23, 2024
Reiterating his support for the troops as they battle to dethrone Hamas and end the terror group’s 16-year rule in Gaza, Herzog wrote, “The intense battles are taking place in an extremely challenging space, and we send strength to the soldiers of the IDF and the security forces, who are working with endless determination to realize the goals of the fighting.”
“On behalf of the entire nation, I console the families and pray for the healing of the wounded,” he added. “Even on this sad and difficult morning, we are strong and remember that together we will win.”
Speaking to Hebrew-language news outlet Ynet on Tuesday morning, former defense minister Moshe Ya’alon, who served in the role between 2013 and 2016, said that Israel was “in a war that we have no choice but to carry out.”
The deaths of the soldiers are “part of the heavy price of eradicating Hamas,” he added.
Other former lawmakers and officials who shared statements mourning the heavy toll of Monday’s incident included former Meretz MK and deputy IDF chief of staff Yair Golan and former Meretz leader Zehava Galon, with the latter saying she wondered “how one can even breathe” after receiving such news.
Israel launched the offensive on Gaza after the October 7 Hamas onslaught in southern Israel when terrorists overran military bases, communities and a music festival, killing some 1,200 people, most of them civilians, amid widespread scenes of horrific abuse. The terrorists also took 253 hostages.
Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and free the hostages. However, three months in, the offensive has not yet achieved those goals and pressure has mounted within Israel to reach a deal with the terror group for the return of the hostages still held in Gaza. International pressure has also intensified to bring the war to an end amid the mounting Palestinian toll and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
