The war in Gaza has proved that IDF’s female field observers are an “indispendable” part of maintaining Israel’s security, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said during a visit to the Tel Hashomer recruitment office on Sunday.
“The war has proven more than ever that the female observers are an indispensable part of maintaining the security of the state – they are the eyes of the state,” Zamir said. “The IDF failed on October 7, the female observers who were on duty did not fail. They were the first to act with courage and heroism under fire.”
Zamir, joined by Human Resources chief Maj.-Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa, emphasized the importance of the role and the need for more recruitment into the IDF from all populations. “The IDF operates in all areas, and in all of them, there are challenges, so each and every one of us needs to adapt ourselves to all of them. The IDF’s position is clear, which is equality of burden. Whoever gives more – will receive more!”
Parents of field observers asks IDF to recognize heroism
Zamir’s visit came a few days after the parents of female IDF observers and operations officers who fell at the Nahal Oz base on October 7 called on the IDF chief and the defense minister to formally recognize their daughters’ heroism in a letter sent on Thursday.
The letter read, “They were abandoned in life and in death, but they acted with courage and saved lives—the IDF must award them a decoration that reflects their bravery. “
The parents sent a letter last Thursday to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz, demanding official recognition of the courage shown by their daughters – the soldiers who served as lookouts and operations NCOs at the Nahal Oz base.
The letter included the parents of soldiers who were killed on October 7, including the family of Noa Marciano, who was kidnapped and murdered in Hamas captivity.
The parents described their anguish following a military debriefing they received about a month ago: “Our minds still refuse to grasp the scale of the failure and abandonment. Our hearts will never heal… Our daughters warned about the drills, the build-up, the training, the ‘white Toyotas’—and nothing was done. Even when they reported that they were being watched, no one acted.
“They were abandoned in life, abandoned to die, abandoned in death. Soldiers of no one.”
They continued, “In the debriefing, we also learned about the heroism of the soldiers. We received the official confirmation of what we already knew: the bravery of our daughters—the lookouts and operations NCOs—on the morning of October 7, who showed extraordinary courage, camaraderie, determination, and devotion in the face of the enemy.
Completing their jobs until the last minute
Those who were on shift in the operations room reported until the very last moment—at the cost of their lives—with composure, professionalism, and determination. They guided forces across the region, even as their own base came under attack, fully aware of what it meant.
The briefing stated explicitly that their reports saved lives. Those who had finished their shift—even just half an hour earlier—and sought shelter in the exposed, unfortified shelter (migunit), protected and cared for one another until the very end.We also learned that two lookouts managed to deflect grenades thrown into the shelter by terrorists—with their bare hands, barefoot, in pajamas—they acted heroically and saved lives.”
The parents concluded their letter with a request to the Chief of Staff and the Defense Minister, ahead of Israel’s upcoming Memorial Day, to officially recognize the courage of their daughters.
“Given their performance under fire and their courage on the morning of October 7, as well as their extraordinary conduct before that date—we believe the IDF should formally acknowledge the heroism of the Nahal Oz lookouts and operations NCOs by awarding a decoration that reflects their bravery, sacrifice, and total dedication to their duty,” they wrote.The letter was signed by the parents of the fallen soldiers: Shahaf Nisani, Aviv Hajaj, Shiret Yam Amar, Maya Vialobo Polo, Noa Marciano, Shai Asherem, Hadar Miriam Cohen, Shirel Mor, Yael Leibushor, Yam Glass, Adi Landman, Noa Preis, Shira Shochat, Noam Abramovich, Osher Simcha Barzilai, and Shirel Chaim Por – may their memories be a blessing.
