Israeli war cabinet minister Gadi Eizenkot faced the heart-wrenching news of his son’s tragic demise during combat in Gaza while engaged in operational discussions at a military headquarters. Benny Gantz, Eizenkot’s fellow centrist minister, conveyed during the funeral that this profoundly sorrowful experience served as a stark reminder of the enduring reality that military strategies, often represented by mere arrows on a map, can translate into heartbreak for beloved families.
Gal Meir Eisenkot, a 25-year-old reservist commando, found himself among the hundreds of thousands of military reservists mobilized for an Israeli offensive prompted by a cross-border incident on October 7, involving a killing and kidnapping spree by Hamas, the ruling Palestinian Islamist group in the Gaza Strip. Tragically, Gal lost his life on Thursday in the northern part of the enclave, where Israeli forces were engaged in battles with Hamas, attempting to secure control after overrunning Gaza the previous month. Hamas claimed responsibility, stating that Gal was killed by a bomb rigged to a guerrilla tunnel in the district of Tal al-Zaatar.
The sorrowful moment of notification unfolded while Eizenkot was in an operational planning room with Gantz, a scenario hauntingly familiar yet uniquely devastating. As Gantz addressed Eizenkot during the eulogy, he reflected on their shared history as former infantrymen who had risen to command all of Israel’s military. Gantz conveyed a poignant acknowledgment of the immense sacrifice made by those who love their homeland, stand at the vanguard to defend it, and are susceptible to falling in battle while protecting its future.
Eizenkot, a former defense minister and a prominent political rival to conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, collaborated with Gantz in a broadened emergency government to effectively manage the escalating offensive. In this joint effort, Eizenkot also became a part of the war cabinet, demonstrating a unified response to the crisis.
Amidst increasing international concern regarding the civilian toll in Gaza, Israel declared its determination to eradicate Hamas, an Iranian-backed group committed to its destruction, and to recover 137 hostages. In the midst of profound grief, Eizenkot, his voice choked with tears, addressed his son’s coffin, expressing a heartfelt commitment to press on with the offensive. He pledged to bolster the country that Gal loved dearly, ensuring it stands strong, cultivated, and righteous.
This deeply emotional journey, from the devastating loss of Gal Meir Eisenkot to the broader context of a nation grappling with the consequences of conflict, underscores the human toll and sacrifices involved in military operations, providing a poignant reflection on the intertwined fates of individuals, families, and the pursuit of national security.