Ido “Dedi” Gal, a company‑grade officer from the Golani Brigade, lost his left leg after being severely wounded during fighting in Gaza City in late 2023. Despite the amputation, Gal insisted on returning to combat service, telling his rehabilitation team that he intended to “finish the war with my soldiers.”
By Hezy Laing
Israel’s wars have produced many extraordinary stories, but few are as distinct as the phenomenon of wounded soldiers demanding to return to battle even before their injuries have fully healed.
Military psychologists at Sheba Medical Center report that during the 2023–2025 Gaza conflict, hundreds of hospitalized combat soldiers asked to rejoin their units, a rate unmatched in Western militaries.
Commanders from the Golani Brigade, Paratroopers, and Givati describe a culture where personal sacrifice, unit cohesion, and national responsibility merge into a powerful drive.
This mindset, shaped by decades of existential conflict, continues into 2026 with cases that have become emblematic of Israeli resilience.
One of the most widely reported examples is Maj. Roi Levy of the Yamam counterterror unit, who was wounded during the October 7 battles in Sderot. Despite shrapnel injuries to his leg and shoulder, Levy requested to return to operational duty within days, telling doctors at Assaf Harofeh Hospital that his team “needed every fighter.” His case became a symbol of frontline determination across the country.
There are many other stories.
Sgt. First Class Matan Zangauker of the Golani 13th Battalion, suffered burns and fractures during urban fighting in Gaza City. After multiple surgeries at Sheba Medical Center, he insisted on rejoining his battalion for the Khan Yunis phase of the operation. His commanders ultimately allowed him to return in a limited role, citing his exceptional morale and leadership influence.
Lt. Col. Tomer Greenberg, commander of the Givati Reconnaissance Unit, was seriously wounded in Be’eri on October 7. Greenberg returned to command his unit less than a month later, still undergoing physical therapy. His rapid return was praised by Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who called it “the embodiment of operational commitment.”
Sgt. Maj. (res.) Yossi Hershko, a reservist from the Paratroopers Brigade, who sustained a broken arm and internal injuries during fighting near Jabalia. Hershko left the hospital against medical advice, rejoined his unit, and continued serving until the end of the northern Gaza operations.
Capt. Daniel Perez of the Armored Corps, lost partial mobility in his left hand after a missile strike on his Merkava tank. Perez underwent accelerated rehabilitation at Tel Hashomer and returned to active duty as a tank commander, insisting that “a commander belongs with his crew.”
Golani Brigade Officer Who Lost a Leg and Fought to Return to Service
But perhaps the most amazing story is that of Maj. (res.) Ido “Dedi” Gal, a company‑grade officer from the Golani Brigade, lost his left leg after being severely wounded during fighting in Gaza City in late 2023. He was evacuated to Sheba Medical Center, where surgeons were forced to amputate the leg above the knee.
Despite the amputation, Gal insisted on returning to combat service, telling his rehabilitation team that he intended to “finish the war with my soldiers.” Doctors and commanders initially refused, but Gal continued training with a prosthetic leg, undergoing intensive physiotherapy and strength conditioning.
By early 2024, he had regained enough mobility to participate in training exercises, and the IDF approved his return in a limited operational role, making him one of the first amputee officers of the war to rejoin active service.
Gal’s story was widely covered by Israeli media and he became a symbol of determination for wounded soldiers across the country.
