"Our mission in Gaza has not yet been completed and a period of difficult trials lies ahead," said Maj. Gen. Yoav Gallant on Sunday evening at a ceremony for Golani Brigade troops who took part in combat efforts against terror groups in the Gaza Strip over the past few months.
Gallant, who heads the army's Southern Command, conferred citations to a number of soldiers and officers who were singled out for exemplary conduct.
The 51st Battalion, said Gallant, displayed determination, perseverance and daring during its time in Gaza from July 2007 to February 2008.
Among the recipients was Lt. Shimon Sisso. In December of last year the 22-year-old and his troops were operating in the al-Murazi refugee camp in central Gaza: "We were inside a building," the Lt. recalled in an interview with Ynet, "several of the men were on the first floor and others were with me on the ground floor, we spotted an armed gunman moving outside and shot him, all of a sudden he exploded."
Gallant with a Golani solider on Sunday (Photo: Avihu Shapira)
As Sisso was reporting the bomb-carrying gunman to the regiment commander, "we became aware of two additional gunmen who opened fire towards the first floor, wounding one of the soldiers. In the midst of treating him the terrorists outflanked us and fired an RPG missile into the building.
"I identified the point of origin and together with another soldier we ran outside, opened fire and wounded them. Then I tossed a grenade and we stormed towards them before finally taking them from a five-yard distance."
Sisso said the encounter was characteristic of many of the engagements between IDF troops and Palestinian gunmen in Gaza. "We were fighting a Hamas organized just like a proper army, with a hierarchy, commanders, a chain of orders and units specializing in different types of combat."
To be honest, he said with a smile, the large audience at the ceremony and meeting with Maj. Gen. Gallant made him a lot more nervous than the idea of facing a combat situation.