“In Rafah, we were required to make a change,” Lt. Col. T., Deputy Commander of the 7th Brigade, characterizes the unique nature of the recent mission in the southern Gaza Strip, where the brigade has been for the past three months. “After a long period where all we did was ‘offense’ – we were required to carry out several defensive operations, which were essentially highly active.”
The armored corps began the rotation after the offensive on Gaza City and exited the Strip at its conclusion with a ceasefire agreement. “The first mission assigned to us upon our return was to secure the ‘red line’ in the Rafah area. There, we understood we had a significant role in shaping the operational reality in the region,” testifies the Deputy Commander.
“The defense in the area included dozens of proactive operations, with an emphasis on clearing the area and destroying underground infrastructure,” Lt. Col. T. explains. “This also led us to engage with dozens of terrorists who were hiding in the various tunnels. Among other things, there were face-to-face battles and rapid identification of threats.”
The process of clearing tunnels, as the Deputy Commander knows well, requires a systematic and clear work method. “In the area, there are tens of kilometers of routes and tunnels, and over time we advanced simultaneously in several areas – systematically. In cooperation with the Yahalom unit, we destroyed 8.5 kilometers of underground infrastructure in the area. One of them was a kilometer long and connected two tunnels that were also destroyed – inside it, we found many weapons and living quarters.”
One of the memorable incidents for him occurred about a month ago. “On a rainy night, six terrorists attempted to infiltrate towards the sector of Battalion 603. The observers identified this incident, scrambled the tanks to the point where an exchange of fire began, and neutralized the entire squad,” he recalls. Various weapons were found on those who were eliminated.
One of the shafts destroyed by the forces was the route where the reserve combat engineer soldier of the Gaza Division, Master Sergeant (res.) Ofi (Yona Ephraim) Feldbaum, z”l, fell on October 28, 2025. This operation represented a closing of a circle for many soldiers in the Southern Command.
“It is important to note that this rotation presented us with quite a few challenges, including direct friction with the enemy, which we sometimes knew in advance would occur, and sometimes it emerged without prior signs,” he says. “I always knew we had amazing commanders and soldiers, but I think they proved it greatly in these past months – in their coping and rapid adaptation.”
The last of the various engagements of the 7th Brigade occurred about two weeks ago. During it, its soldiers launched an attack on a shaft in an area where Hamas activity was identified. During the attack, they encountered three terrorists and engaged them in battle. All were neutralized, and during subsequent searches inside the tunnel, the soldiers identified six additional terrorist bodies.
Alongside the operational activity, the brigade also emphasized a return to professional fundamentals that were understandably eroded during the intensive and long months of maneuvering. “Many things have changed because of the war, and we made sure to create a professional routine for the teams. We used the time to improve fitness through various training exercises, along with the diverse missions we faced here.”
“Our achievements in the sector are also related to the sense of certainty of the soldiers and commanders,” emphasizes the Deputy Commander. “We wanted to give them the maximum – they knew they had our backing. We are ready for the missions we are required to undertake, and we are warming up the engines for what’s next.”
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