Friday, May 16, 2025

By: JNS

Wednesday, 14 May 2025 | Neurosurgeons at Ziv Medical Center in Safed have saved the life of a six-year-old Syrian girl who was shot in the head and was rushed to Israel for emergency treatment, according to a report on Tuesday. 

The girl, whose name has not been released, was originally operated on at a local hospital in Syria after the incident, but her condition began to deteriorate, according to Ynet. 

The girl’s neurological responses worsened, she lost the ability to speak as the left side of her body also became paralyzed. As the prognosis worsened, the girl’s family turned to Israel in a last-ditch effort to save her life. 

The girl’s grandmother accompanied her across the border with an Israel Defense Forces escort to the Ziv Medical Center. “The doctors there treated her like she was their daughter,” the grandmother said. “Without them, she would no longer be alive.” 

Doctors in Syria reportedly did not think the girl, who was shot in the head while playing in the yard outside her home, would survive the operation. “It was a miracle she survived,” the grandmother said, “but when her condition deteriorated, the only option was to come to Israel,” she said, noting that she too had received medical attention in the Jewish state. 

Dr. Samuel Tobias, head of the Neurosurgery Department at Ziv, said the doctors were not only trying to save the girl’s life, but also acutely aware of the potential impact of the surgery on her quality of life. “We saw a patient with a serious neurological injury … but we also saw she was just a girl, and we weren’t going to give up on her,” he said, according to Ynet. 

The medical team at the center closely monitored the girl’s progress and was “moved by the improvement in her condition,” Tobias explained. “When she arrived, she didn’t speak or move. Today she’s smiling.” 

The next stage of treatment, he said, “will be surgery to insert an implant that will complete the missing part of the skull to improve her mobility as much as possible.” 

He concluded by saying the team at Ziv is interested in saving lives, and does not care what a person’s country of origin is.

By: Joshua Marks ~ JNS

Thursday, 15 May 2025 | US President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Tuesday ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, a day after announcing the lifting of all US sanctions on Damascus. 

The meeting marked the first direct encounter between American and Syrian leaders in a quarter century. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the 33-minute conversation via video call, alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Turkish Anadolu news agency reported. Erdogan praised Trump’s sanctions decision as “historic,” highlighting it as a key Turkish foreign policy objective. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying Trump had thanked both Erdogan and the crown prince for their friendship, and had told al-Sharaa that he has “a tremendous opportunity to do something historic” in Syria. 

According to Leavitt, Trump encouraged al-Sharaa to sign onto the Abraham Accords with Israel, expel all foreign terrorists from Syria, deport Palestinian terrorists, assist the United States in preventing an ISIS resurgence and take full responsibility for ISIS detention centers in northeast Syria. 

Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One following the talks, Trump said: “I think they have to get themselves straightened up. I told him [al-Sharaa], ‘I hope you’re going to join when it’s straightened out.’ He said, ‘Yes.’ But they have a lot of work to do.” 

Al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, thanked the leaders for facilitating the meeting and acknowledged the strategic opportunity created by Iran’s retreat from Syria. He affirmed Syria’s commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, expressed support for US–Syrian cooperation against terrorism and chemical weapons, and invited American companies to invest in Syrian oil and gas. He also proposed turning Syria into a trade corridor between East and West. 

Following the trilateral discussions, Trump said the United States is “looking at normalization with Syria,” signaling a potential shift in decades of US policy toward the country. The president also reportedly discussed economic incentives offered by al-Sharaa, including opening Syrian oil fields to American companies and proposing a Trump Tower in Damascus to encourage US investment in post-war reconstruction. 

The Russia–Ukraine war and ongoing conflict in Gaza were also discussed, according to Leavitt. 

Jerusalem reportedly views the normalization push with deep concern, citing al-Sharaa’s past and the potential legitimization of a figure long tied to terrorism. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has previously called the new Syrian government “jihadists in suits.”

By Simon Fenn ~ Bridges for Peace

Thursday, 15 May 2025 | A brutal terror attack struck Samaria on Wednesday night, claiming the life of Tzeela Gez, a 30-year-old pregnant woman from Bruchin, and leaving her husband critically wounded as they drove toward a hospital for the birth of their child. The shooting has sparked grief, outrage, and calls for increased action against the current wave of terror in the region. 

The attack took place around 10 p.m. on Highway 55, when a terrorist opened fire on the couple’s vehicle. Magen David Adom emergency services responded quickly, treating Tzeela, who was in critical condition, and her husband, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to save her, Tzeela succumbed to her injuries at Beilinson Hospital, where doctors performed an emergency caesarean section to deliver her newborn son. The infant was transferred to Schneider Children’s Hospital, where he is reportedly in serious but stable condition. Tzeela’s husband, Hananel Gez remains in grave condition, battling life-threatening injuries. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and police, launched an immediate manhunt for the perpetrator, who fled the scene. The IDF confirmed that the military is conducting extensive operations in the area, blocking roads and searching nearby Palestinian villages, including al-Funduq, to apprehend the shooter. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials have pointed to rising tensions in Judea and Samaria (West Bank), where recent months have seen an escalation in violent incidents. 

Israeli leaders expressed both grief and condemnation in the wake of the tragedy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack “horrific,” saying the couple’s journey to give birth to their baby was cut short by “despicable terrorists.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took to social media, urging prayers for the wounded and emphasizing the need to “destroy the enemy” in both Gaza and the West Bank and to ensure security across Israel. Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, who attended the scene, described Gez as a “devoted, beloved, and smiling woman” and demanded severe measures, including razing villages linked to terrorism, to prevent further bloodshed. 

Today, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited the site of last night’s deadly shooting, where he said Israeli forces are actively pursuing the terrorist and potential accomplices in an ongoing manhunt. “This is a difficult and painful attack in which an Israeli civilian was killed on her way to a delivery room. I share in the deep sorrow of the family. We are engaged in broad fighting against terror in Judea and Samaria, and we will continue. We will activate all our tools, and we will reach the murderers to bring them to justice.” 

The ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict, which has ignited since October 2023, continues to fuel unrest and increased violence in Judea and Samaria, straining efforts to maintain stability. This latest attack has reinflamed debates over security in the region. In January, a terror attack on the same highway claimed the lives of three Israelis, including a policeman. 

Some politicians are arguing that unchecked Palestinian militancy threatens all of Israel. “If there is no security in Samaria, there will be no security in Tel Aviv,” Smotrich said, echoing sentiments from other officials who warn of a wider terror surge. 

As the investigation unfolds, authorities are yet to identify the attacker and determine whether the shooting was a lone act or part of a coordinated militant effort. The IDF has increased its presence in the area, with checkpoints and patrols intensified to deter further attacks.

By: Simon Fenn ~ Bridges for Peace

Wednesday, 14 May 2025 | Israel has carried out precision airstrikes on a hospital in Khan Younis, in a targeted attempt to assassinate Mohammed Sinwar, assumed to be the most senior Hamas leader in Gaza, after Yahya Sinwar, his brother, was killed by the IDF in October 2024. 

Israel’s decision to target Mohammed Sinwar reportedly sprang from an intelligence-driven “sudden opportunity” that left no time to inform the US. The attack hit a Hamas command center beneath the European Hospital, leaving a question as to whether Sinwar survived. The IAF reportedly used bunker-buster bombs in the attack similar to the munitions used in the strike that killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on September 27, 2024.  

The IDF notified staff to evacuate patients prior to the attack. Despite being forewarned, Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least 16 people died and 70 others were wounded. The World Health Organization condemned the attack, stating, “Hospitals must be sanctuaries, not battlegrounds.” Israel defended the strike, stating that it was targeting a Hamas command center beneath the hospital. The IDF military accused Hamas of continuing to exploit medical facilities in the Gaza Strip for terrorist purposes, calling it “a cynical and brutal use of the civilian population in the hospital and its surroundings.” 

In a statement describing the attack on the hospital, the IDF said that multiple measures were taken before and during the strike to minimize harm to civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure. “The IDF and Shin Bet [Israeli internal security] will continue to operate to remove any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel,” the statement said. 

The operation’s timing coincided with an Israeli delegation arriving in Qatar led by Shin Bet’s “M” and Brigadier General Gal Hirsch (Res.), Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons. There is speculation about the potential impact that Sinwar’s killing may have on stalled hostage and ceasefire negotiations. An Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post “[Mohammed] Sinwar was the most extreme figure in terms of negotiation positions for reaching a deal.” If he is out of the picture, it should ease the efforts to reach an agreement." Sinwar, who assumed leadership of Hamas’s military wing after Mohammed Deif’s assassination and broader control following Yahya’s death, was known for his hardline stance. It is reported that Sinwar often rejected concessions in negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt and that his rigid position hindered progress on obtaining the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. 

It appears to be a matter of debate if Sinwar’s death may shift power to Hamas’s external leadership, based in Qatar and Turkey, and away from Gaza. This leadership transition could create a new window for progress, though experts also warn that Hamas’s fragmented structure may complicate decision-making. 

Confirming Sinwar’s death remains a significant hurdle. The strike hit a heavily fortified command unit beneath the hospital and will require extensive and time-consuming forensic analysis. Israel is sifting through the rubble, as well as attempting to gather intelligence and intercept Hamas communications that may shed light on Sinwar’s fate. The process could take days or even weeks due to the depth of the Hamas command center and the intensity of the strike that involved 6 or more bunker-penetrating bombs.

By: JNS

Monday, 12 May 2025 | The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday issued evacuation warnings for three ports in Yemen controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists. 

“In light of the use of the seaports by the Houthi terrorist regime for its terror activities, we urge everyone present at the ports to evacuate and stay away from them until further notice,” Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, wrote on social media. 

“Failure to evacuate the ports until further notice puts you at risk,” the spokesperson warned. 

Arabic-language media reported that Israeli fighter jets had struck Hudaydah Port, though there was no confirmation of any such attack by the IDF or official Houthi channels. 

On Friday, the IDF intercepted a ballistic missile from Yemen, which triggered sirens across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. 

The attack marked the latest in a string of escalations between Jerusalem and the Houthis, who have intensified aerial assaults on the territory of the Jewish state in recent weeks. 

On May 4, a Houthi missile impacted near Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, wounding six civilians and causing significant and ongoing flight disruptions. 

The Houthis on May 4 announced a “comprehensive aerial blockade” on the Jewish state and vowed to continue their aerial terrorist assaults. 

On May 5, the IDF conducted a wave of airstrikes on Hudaydah Port, targeting missile launch sites and drone infrastructure. 

The next day, it carried out large-scale strikes on Sanaa International Airport, with dozens of fighter jets flying more than 1,000 miles [1,609 km.] to drop 50 precision bombs on the facility, disabling it. The strike also targeted power stations in the Houthi capital, as well as a cement factory. 

Ynetnews reported that IDF intelligence anticipates additional Houthi attacks on Israeli airports as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign. Potential targets reportedly include Haifa Airport and other major transit hubs.

By: Tzur Gueta ~ Ynetnews

Friday, 9 May 2025 | Approximately 12% of Gaza war reservists report experiencing multiple symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a new study published by researchers at Tel Aviv University. The alarming data highlights the severe and lasting psychological impact of reserve combat service. The study raises difficult questions about the readiness of returning soldiers and the state's preparedness to address their needs.

Findings reflect a dramatic increase in reports of PTSD symptoms among soldiers from the March 2019 intake compared to their regular service period—when only 4–6% of soldiers reported such symptoms. This figure is more than double the rate measured six months post-discharge, where approximately 8% of soldiers exhibited symptoms. 

The study, which has been ongoing for six years, was conducted in collaboration with the IDF, explains Professor Yair Bar-Haim, head of the National Center for Trauma and Resilience at Tel Aviv University and the lead researcher. "The general aim was to understand how post-traumatic symptoms develop throughout combat service. It’s important to recognize that soldiers come into service mentally healthy. In very rare cases, PTSD stems from prior events like car accidents or terror attacks. What happens is that during the course of service—beginning with basic training, advanced training, and continuing through operational activities—the percentages of those reporting symptoms begin to rise."

The Tel Aviv University study has tracked the prevalence of PTSD symptoms among soldiers over years of combat service and post-discharge. It was presented at the Tel Aviv University "Future of Israel" conference. Surveys were conducted using a questionnaire developed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, translated into Hebrew, and considered the gold standard for self-reported PTSD symptom measurement. Participants rank the severity of their symptoms on the questionnaire.

While this screening tool does not replace a formal diagnosis conducted in a structured clinical interview, it provides an estimate of full PTSD. Numerous studies from Israel and abroad show a strong correlation between self-reported screening results and clinical interview outcomes, with correlations ranging from 0.70 to 0.85. This means individuals who report severe symptoms on the screening questionnaire are likely to score high in a clinical interview as well.

Combat Soldiers Face Increasing Trauma Symptoms Over Time 

The researchers tracked 579 soldiers from the March 2019 intake who enlisted in one of the IDF’s infantry brigades. Participants completed the PTSD symptom questionnaire at five points in time: upon enlistment, after 15 months of service, after 27 months of service, six months post-discharge, and one and a half years post-discharge. Findings show that as the duration of service progressed, the percentage of soldiers reporting multiple PTSD symptoms rose accordingly to levels consistent with a clinical diagnosis, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5 diagnostic manual.

According to Professor Bar-Haim: "If there are approximately 15,000 combat soldiers in one recruitment cycle, and there are three cycles per year, we’re talking about roughly 2,500 new soldiers annually who struggle with PTSD symptoms—this is just from routine combat service, not including wars or unusual events."

He adds: "Toward the end of regular service, we see the percentages reaching 4.5% to 6%. There was hope it would stop there, but in reality, we observe an almost doubling of the rate post-discharge. The data shows that nearly 8% of soldiers report PTSD symptoms—even before the war—and this is very concerning."

At the first data collection point, i.e., at enlistment, less than 0.5% of recruits suffered from PTSD stemming from prior experiences. After about a year and a half in the military—comprising six months of combat training and approximately nine months of operational activity—the figure rose to 2.6%. By the end of regular service, following additional rounds of operational activity, the rate had already reached 4.4%.

Although there was hope that symptom severity would decrease after discharge from regular service, six months post-discharge, an additional increase in symptoms was observed, with nearly 8% of the cohort reporting multiple PTSD symptoms. It is important to note that this data reflects a period of service without war or special military operations. 

The Impact of War: Sharp Increase in PTSD Rates

The fifth data collection point occurred several months after the outbreak of "Operation Iron Swords." Approximately 85% of the study participants were called up for reserve duty and took part in the war. As expected, the war deepened the psychological challenges, and the number of participants reporting significant PTSD symptoms rose to around 12%. 

"This war has brought us to a point where 12% experience PTSD symptoms," says Bar-Haim. "This is a high number—but not unusual when compared to similar wars in the past, both in Israel and the United States: Vietnam, the Yom Kippur War, the First Lebanon War, Afghanistan, Iraq. The professional literature fully supports this figure."

Professor Bar-Haim presented the study’s findings at the "Future of Israel" conference: "The study data reflects one recruitment cycle of an infantry brigade—like Paratroopers, Golani, or Givati—that enlisted in 2019 and completed regular service in 2022. During their regular service, these soldiers did not experience war or special military operations, so this data reflects PTSD symptoms among IDF combat soldiers during routine activity, primarily in the West Bank."

Addressing the Mental Health Crisis

Following the Gaza war, another increase in reported PTSD symptoms was recorded, with around 12% of the sample affected. These figures are not surprising and align with what is known about PTSD symptoms following high-intensity wars, both in IDF and other militaries.

"The data contributes to the understanding that we are currently in a mental health emergency in Israel," says Professor Bar-Haim. "This is a situation the Israeli society has been contending with for many years, in both routine and emergency situations. Decision-makers must act urgently to devise long-term solutions to address the need for treatment for the high number of soldiers with PTSD. Solutions must look beyond the immediate horizon, focusing on at least the next two decades. These solutions should include accelerating and improving the training of therapists, alongside opening strong regional clinics specializing in post-discharge trauma treatment."

He emphasizes that these are not just numbers. "These are people living with open wounds. At the National Center for Trauma and Resilience, we treat hundreds of reservists, some of whom receive emergency call-ups during their treatment. There are those who simply cannot return, literally. Someone with a physical injury, like an amputated limb, won’t be called back for reserve duty, but someone who has mentally collapsed often goes unnoticed and still receives a call-up. Some soldiers feel obligated to their team and return despite everything—this can worsen their condition and reduce their functional capacity. Many of them need treatment before they can even consider returning to service, if they ever do."

Professor Bar-Haim concludes by saying that the study data aligns with the large number of combat veterans contacting the Ministry of Defense’s rehabilitation division for help and recognition of their condition. It also partially explains the declining rates of reservists reporting for duty. Combat reservists dealing with multiple symptoms struggle to attend additional service.

The IDF is implementing numerous measures to prevent and treat PTSD, says Professor Bar-Haim. However, the described situation creates a tremendous burden on the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, the rehabilitation division, and Israeli society as a whole, with the main pressure falling on combat soldiers and their families.

By: Steve Linde ~ JNS

Thursday, 15 May 2025 | Eighteen foreign ambassadors joined dozens of Jewish organizational leaders, Israel activists, journalists and social media influencers at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem on May 14, the 77th anniversary of Israel’s establishment, for a gala celebration hosted by the Israel Forever Foundation on Declaration Day. 

The event, billed by Israel Forever Foundation CEO Elana Heideman as a reaffirmation of “the legal, moral and historical rights of Israel and the Jewish people,” was broadcast live to supporters of Israel in the Jewish state and around the globe. 

“On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion stood before the world and declared the independence of the Jewish state in our ancestral homeland,” Heideman wrote. “It was not just a political act—it was the fulfillment of generations of yearning, struggle and faith.” 

She added, “Now, in 2025, we are called to do the same. At a time when Israel’s legitimacy is under attack, when antisemitism is surging around the globe and when truth is too often drowned out by noise, Declaration Day is your opportunity to rise above it all. To stand proud. To make your voice heard.” 

In her opening address, Heideman called on everyone, everywhere, in the spirit of Israel’s Declaration of Independence, “to stand with the Jewish nation, not only in celebration but in commemoration of the history that we come tonight together to reaffirm.” 

“Standing up for Israel is standing up for the future of mankind and for the future of peace,” she declared to warm applause from the audience. She entreated people abroad to “fight for the rights of Israel and Jews and all of humanity,” adding, “We don’t have a narrative; we have a truth; a truth that we can be proud of.” 

Noting that Israel’s Declaration of Independence contained 664 words, she then invited a string of speakers to share their meaningful messages in 664 words on this Declaration Day. 

Jewish News Syndicate’s award-winning columnist and senior contributing editor, Ruthie Blum, was first up, representing both JNS and the Israeli media. “Some people think of me as a purveyor of gloom and doom, because of my pessimism when I write,” she said. “But actually, I would like to say something that is the optimistic part of the pessimism. None of the bad news that we’re hearing is anything new. And that means we got through it and we will get through it.” 

She shared that she had made a lot of mistakes in her life, but moving to Israel from the United States in 1977 was not one of them. “Never have I been sorry and not after October 7 either,” she said. “And that is because we have truth on our side.” 

At JNS, she said, “Our mission is to tell the truth…and being pro-Israel is on the side of truth. The Jewish people are an ancient people. This is the land of the Jews. The State of Israel was recognized. It is legitimate. And rather than being warmongers, as we’re accused of, we’re peacemongers. If anything has caused us a headache, it’s our seeking peace at every opportunity. It is therefore easy to tell the truth about that because it is the truth.” 

Knesset [parliament] Member Ohad Tal (Religious Zionism) echoed Heideman’s call “to stand with Israel” at this difficult time in its history. 

“You know, friends, once again Israel is under attack, not just by rockets but by those who question the very right of the Jewish people to exist. I was thinking, while we’re talking about this day, Declaration Day, that the Jewish people basically broke all rules of history, of physics, by returning here to this land after 2,000 years of exile.” 

The big question, Tal said, is why the Jewish people returned to their homeland. “Have we returned only for ourselves, or as some people say, to have the right to defend ourselves? Or did we come back to bring a new message to the world? I think the second option is the right option. We came here not just for our sake, but really for the sake of humanity, to bring a blessing to the entire world.” 

Tal thanked those who participated in the event and everyone watching, appealing to all supporters of Israel to “keep standing with strength and pride for the one and only Jewish state.”

By: Dan Raban ~ Ynetnews

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 | More than four decades after he fell in the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub, Staff Sgt. Tzvi Feldman was laid to rest Monday evening in a military ceremony at the Holon Cemetery. Feldman’s remains were returned to Israel over the weekend in a secret Mossad [Israeli intelligence agency] and IDF operation carried out deep inside Syria. 

Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their final respects, including Aliyah (immigration to Israel) and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer, Mossad Chief David Barnea, and other officials. 

Col. Itamar Michaeli, commander of the Harel Brigade, eulogized Feldman, calling his return "the closing of a personal and national circle." “This has been an unimaginable journey of 43 years to bring him to a Jewish grave in Israel,” Michaeli said. “This is a message from the IDF and the state to its soldiers: that we never give up.” 

Feldman was killed on the sixth day of the First Lebanon War during a mission to secure Israel’s northern border. “Then, as now,” said Michaeli, “he understood that without fighters willing to defend the country, even at the cost of their lives, there is no future for the next generation in Israel.” 

Addressing Feldman’s siblings—Yitzhak, Shlomo, and Anat—Michaeli said: “Zvika drew his dedication and sense of sacrifice from your home. He gave his life so that we may live. Bringing him back is a multigenerational mission.” 

Feldman’s sister Anat, speaking through tears, recalled the day her brother went off to war. “Almost 43 years have passed since you left for battle. We always hoped you were still alive. That long journey began on a Saturday when they came to draft Yitzhak. You told him, ‘Don’t worry—it’ll be OK.’ The next day, both of us put on our uniforms—you were heading to reserve duty in Tze'elim, and I was in active service.” 

She described how she packed his bag and noticed he’d tucked in his harmonica—he always loved music and lifting spirits. “I’ll never forget how Mom ran after you and asked, ‘Zvika, which Saturday will you be back?’ You answered, ‘I don’t know which Saturday.’ I had a terrible feeling that morning. When I got the call, I screamed, ‘What happened to Zvika?’ and ran out of the base.” 

Despite pressure to be discharged from service, she continued serving. “I wanted you to be proud of me. You’re buried now as a soldier who fell defending Israel. Please be our advocate in heaven. May all our captives, prisoners and MIAs come home.” 

His brother Shlomo remembered waiting for Zvi to return from the army and running to greet him when the bus arrived. “You always made sure I didn’t lack a thing. Today we fulfill Mom’s dying wish: not to rest until you were brought home.” 

Brother Yitzhak thanked the prime minister, the president, and the Mossad. “Above all, I thank God for bringing him home from enemy soil,” he said, adding a message to the families of hostages: “Do not give up hope. If we didn’t, you shouldn’t either.” 

Mossad agents spent five months locating Feldman’s grave, operating under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s nose. The agents, posing as cemetery workers, advanced centimeter by centimeter under strict watch, not allowed to dig openly. They smuggled soil samples out until DNA testing confirmed the location. “When I saw his uniform,” one operative said, “I knew we were in the right place, even before the DNA results.” 

Feldman fell in the Battle of Sultan Yacoub on June 10–11, 1982, one of the most controversial battles of the First Lebanon War. The IDF had been ordered to seize a strategic junction near the village of Sultan Yacoub. Unaware that Syrian forces were nearby, Israeli armored units walked into a deadly ambush. The battle lasted eight hours, resulting in 20 Israeli dead, dozens wounded, and six missing. 

Of the six, some were later accounted for. One soldier, Zohar Lipschitz, was killed and buried in Syria; his body was returned after the war. Two others—Eric Lieberman and Hezi Shai—were captured and later freed. A fourth soldier, Zachary Baumel, was returned to Israel in 2019. One, Yehuda Katz, remains missing to this day. 

Feldman’s return closes one of the last open wounds from that battle. His homecoming, family members said, is a testament to Israel’s enduring promise to never leave a soldier beh