At 4 o’clock in the afternoon, my wife and I gathered along with several thousand other Rehovotites to pay our final respects to Sergeant Ronal Ben Moshe. Ronal fell with six of his comrades in the Israel Defense Corps Battalion 605, part of the 188th Brigade Combat Team, fighting to detoxify Gaza from the curse of Hamas. Like most of the attendees, we didn’t know Ronal personally. Nevertheless, he was our child. We learned about the strength, wit, energy, heroism, and big smile that characterized this 20-year-old. Our eyes glistened as we listened to his officers, father, brother, sisters, and many friends eulogize him. His loss is devastating to his loved ones, and every one of us shares in their grief.
Why did hundreds of strangers go out on a hot, humid Rehovot afternoon to stand for nearly 90 minutes and hear about the life of someone they never met? The answer to that conundrum is that Ronal, and the six soldier-engineers who died at his side, represent the best of Israel. These young men—and sometimes women—are willing to put their lives in mortal danger to fight for the Jewish homeland. They serve willingly, with no complaints. They are loyal to their fellow soldiers, and many stories of bravery have been recounted since that barbaric day, October 7, 2023, when Hamas tried to overrun southern Israel with the goal of murdering, raping, and kidnapping as many Israelis as possible. We citizens, who cannot serve due to age, disability, or infirmity, are forever grateful to those soldiers who fight so that we can live securely and safely. Showing our respect is the least we can do.
The seven Engineering Unit soldiers met a gruesome end. Their Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) was ignited by an improvised explosive device (IED), and they were burned alive. This APC was a PUMA-class vehicle. The conundrum: this vehicle is known to be vulnerable to IEDs, as it does not contain the most up-to-date protection against stealth attacks by terrorists who hide in tunnels, houses, and among the general Gazan populace. Why were seven of our best sent out to fight with less than the most modern, technologically advanced equipment?
The seven heroes who perished on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, bring the number of IDF personnel who have died since October 7, 2023, to over 870. Of these, more than 430 have fallen fighting in Gaza. For Israel, June has been the costliest month in 2025 and one of the costliest since the ground fighting in Gaza began on October 27, 2023. The conundrum: the government and the IDF have stated that Hamas has been defeated as a military force. The goal now is to dismantle infrastructure in Gaza, clean up remaining resistance, and free the hostages. There are 50 remaining hostages in Gaza—only 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Twenty heroic soldiers perished this month alone. It is not unreasonable to question the strategy currently employed in Gaza. What tactics can the IDF put in place to bring the number of casualties down?
The Iran–Israel war of June 13–24 had widespread support throughout Israel. This support continued up to the implementation of the current ceasefire with Iran. Many Israelis feel that this ceasefire should have included a resolution to the Gaza hostage issue and the surrender of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The extent of destruction of Iran’s nuclear capacity and its ability to manufacture long-range ballistic missiles remains undetermined. Nevertheless, the IDF registered a clear victory over its arch-enemy. The conundrum: should Israel have continued its air campaign against Iran until the unconditional surrender of Iran and Hamas and the return of the hostages?
In contrast to the loss of personnel in Gaza, not one soldier or airman was lost during the Iran–Israel war. Although a regime change in Iran should probably be left to the Iranian people, a regime change in Gaza is a necessary outcome of the fighting with this barbaric terrorist group. However, President Trump—who has been a stalwart supporter of Israel and who came off the sidelines to bomb the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear centers—pressured Israel to accept a ceasefire. Backing of Israel at the level conducted by President Trump has never before been received in the history of the State of Israel. It is difficult, and perhaps unwise, to refuse to follow President Trump’s lead in dealing with Iran. Nevertheless, our leaders must find a way to maintain U.S. cooperation without making “deals” that will compromise our future.
The enigmatic challenges facing the leadership of Israel extend far beyond those cited above. These include the demographic heterogeneity of the Jewish majority and its impact on the Israeli economy, the IDF, and the social and religious fabric of the society; the integration of Israeli Arabs and ensuring their future loyalty to the State of Israel; and finally, the writing and acceptance of a constitution that will maintain the Jewish character of Israel, protect its democratic character, and lead to balance between the different branches of government.
Conundrums aside, the Israeli people, our army, and—to a large extent—our leaders performed remarkably during a multifront war with enemies seeking to destroy us. We should be proud of our soldiers in the air, on the ground, and at sea. While being introspective, we should show gratitude and respect to our leaders and fellow citizens, regardless of their politics. History has taught us that when united, the Jewish people—Am Yisrael—can succeed against great odds and powerful enemies.
May Hashem make it so.
Dr. Fred Naider is a Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry and former Provost at the City University of New York. He lives in Rehovot. The opinions in this article are his own.
