"We didn't know if this was the right thing to do, but it was clear - we are entering the tunnel":

Major Yair Alkalai encountered the tunnels of Gaza for the first time as a commander in the Givati ​​patrol at 'Tzuk Eitan' - he bravely jumped into it, trying to save his comrades in arms. A decade after the incident for which he received a Medal of Honor, he fought again in Gaza, this time as a commander of reserve fighters. We went back to those moments.

His military journey began 14 years ago, in 2010 - Major Yair Alkalai, then an 18-year-old boy, was assigned to the Givati ​​Brigade and was accepted to the Givati's elite Patrol unit. He quickly started an officers' course. "I never dreamed of it at all, but over time, and with the help of my commanders, I realized that I have the abilities," he recalls, "I told myself there is no reason why I shouldn't do it - and if I can, I should."

Major Alkalai was assigned became the Mission commander of the patrol, and served in this position in the summer of 2014, when "Tzuk Eitan" erupted. 

As someone who was used to holding a line in the Gaza Envelope, he knew that at the time his unit would enter the Strip. "It's hard to explain how it feels. On the one hand, you cross the fence and enter a danger zone, and on the other hand, you're very complete with what you're supposed to do," he shares, "What gave me strength was knowing that I have soldiers behind me, and I have to be there for them." .

The patrol had a specific and focused goal - the destruction of tunnels, when in the background there was a clear directive - do not enter them. 

The fighters operated in the strip for a long time, until they reached the last shaft. "It was early in the morning. A cease-fire had already been announced, but we wanted to find the tunnel we had to destroy," he recalled, "at that moment we realized that the company field HQ was attacked, and we ran to their point as fast as possible."

When they arrived - it was already too late. Three fighters were killed, and at the opening of the shaft there were signs that indicated that another fighter had been kidnapped into the tunnel. "No one thought we would go in there, we all knew it was forbidden," Major Alkalai emphasizes. But in light of the sequence of events, without thinking twice, the SMP's force jumped in, and because the tunnel was so narrow, they took down all the equipment they were carrying, and were left with only a gun.

In the meantime, Major Alkalai's force was standing above the tunnel entrance and was in contact with them, but it wasn't long before he was cut off. In a moment's decision, they realized that they had to take action, one that could decide between life and death: "We didn't know if this was the right thing, but this is what we could do. And then it was clear to us - we're going in."

After approval from the brigadier general in contact, they widened the tunnel opening a little and entered with the equipment. But from here things get even more complicated - the tunnel only gets narrower and narrower, the air became compressed and suffocating, and inside it was so dark that even the flashlight couldn't get through the masking of the dust created.

"It was a terrible fear - a feeling that you could die at any moment," Major Alkalai explains, "The communication was done by shouting to each other, and we hoped that the force inside would not think we were terrorists and shoot us by mistake. All this, praying that the tunnel will not collapse or explode."

Major Alkalai had one mission in his mind, which he reminded himself step by step: 'I can't leave my friends behind.' After we saw that they were fine, it was a crazy feeling of relief."

According to the findings in the tunnel, they realized at this stage that the kidnapped soldier had already been killed, and he was deep in the strip, and thus the decision was made to leave there. 

Following his performance at the event, Major Alkalai received a letter from the commander of the Southern Command, Major General Sami Turgeman: "I was told that the action I took was of value - to bring back one of our fighters, and not to leave anyone behind. It was very exciting."

Major Alkalai continues this path even today, as a commander of the Negev Patrol - the company of reserve fighters of the veterans of the Givati ​​Patrol. They were called up on 10/7, but they have been fighting together for more than a decade.

"This is the second time we are dealing with the same space. Now I already know what a tunnel is - and what to expect," he testifies with full mouth, "the people I was with were ready to sacrifice their lives even 10 years ago in mandatory service, and even today when they are in the reserves. And for that - We can only be proud of his people."

"To be honest, I even thought about becoming a psychologist or a tour guide," smiles Major Alkalai, "in the end - life takes you where you need to be. And if I'm here, it's probably my calling."