VIDEO - Sergeant Ram Boneh, 20, from Hadera, who was wounded Wednesday in fierce battles betweenHizbullah and the IDF at Bint Jbeil, said he saw many act of courage during the rescue operation to retrieve the casualties, which took place under heavy enemy fire. “Soldiers went in to get their friends; they didn’t think a bullet could hit them, and they gave their all for one another,” he said.
More than 20 wounded soldiers were rushed to the Rambam Hospital in Haifa Wednesday. Three were seriously wounded, four were moderately wounded and 15 were lightly wounded.
Boneh was in light condition after suffering shrapnel wounds. “We knew we were going to fight," he related. "It all started at dawn, when we set out for the mission and on the way there was a clash (with Hizbullah forces), but we dealt with them as necessary and even further."
“Fear always exists somewhere. These are people who have never been in these situations, but we came prepared.”
When asked whether morale plunged after casualties were incurred, the sergeant answered: “You’d be surprised, but even after a day like today, morale was soaring. We must not be discouraged. I want to leave here and go back there. Just let me out of here so I can go back to my friends. We’re going to win big.”
Another wounded soldier was recovering in the hospital bed next to Boneh’s, also lightly wounded. MK Effi Eitam (NU-NRP) came to the hospital to talk with the soldier and noted that his son was also fighting up north. When asked what happened during the battles, the soldier answered: “They surprised us a bit.”
‘When your son is in Lebanon’
The parents of the injured soldiers hurried to the hospital as well. Galila Wertzer, whose son Or was hurt in the battle, said: “My son managed to get out but many are still there. The feeling is of incredible pain. On the one hand there is relief that he’s out of the inferno, but on the other hand others were wounded. There are no words to describe what you go through when your son is in Lebanon.”
Wertzer described the moment she received the news that her son was wounded.
“I was at work. The phone rang. My whole body reacted – the feeling was horrible, but the moment I heard him it was mixed with relief. He told me he was lightly injured, and said he wanted to eat. As soon as he said that sentence I understood that he would be okay.” Wertzer said her son suffered light shrapnel wounds on his arms.
Or was recovering in the hospital’s orthopedic ward. His mother said: “On Saturday night they were called to go to Lebanon. I knew he was there. I also know when he’s in Gaza, he always tells me, ‘I won’t be available by phone for a few days.’ From the moment he was called to Lebanon, my mind was in a turmoil. Every mother and father whose son is there feels the same.”
Wertzer criticized the media coverage and commentary on the fighting in Lebanon.
“Our children our sacrificing their blood and these people are speaking tactlessly and without thinking. Let them get out of there safely first and come home. I heard on interviewer talking about ‘screw-ups’. Wait, now is not the time for that. Our sons are fighting now, wait til they leave there safely,” she said.