By Pesach Benson • August 23, 2026
Jerusalem, 23 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — An Israeli Border Police officer who lost an eye in a grenade blast has been fitted with a custom prosthetic eye bearing a Star of David as he works toward returning to operational service.
The Border Police is a branch of Israel’s police force responsible for maintaining security, combating terrorism and crime, and carrying out law-enforcement operations in high-risk areas.
A.S., a former Border Police officer, shows his eye prosethic decorated with a Jewish star at the Bnai Zion Medical Center in Haifa. Photo by Bnai Zion Medical Center/TPS-IL
A.S., in his 40s, a married father of two from northern Israel and a member of the Border Police’s undercover unit, was critically wounded on Oct. 5, 2023, During an operational activity in Tulkarm, two days before Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack on southern Israeli communities.
He suffered severe injuries to his hand and leg, prolonged infections and the loss of his eye. After undergoing complex surgeries and an extended rehabilitation period at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, he spent about a year and a half undergoing intensive rehabilitation at Bnai Zion Medical Center in Haifa.
Following the loss of his eye, Dr. Yoav Vardizer, director of oculoplasty at Bnai Zion, fitted A.S. with the custom prosthetic eye bearing the Star of David.
“I had no grip on my hand, I couldn’t even cut my nails myself,” A.S. said, describing his condition after the injury.
The Bnei Zion rehabilitation team developed a personalized program combining physiotherapy, occupational therapy, cognitive and emotional treatment, and exercises to restore strength and function in his injured hand.
Occupational therapists Noa Gottfried and Liron Schnitzer and physiotherapist Shahar Yaroslav Ben David helped him rebuild his daily routine and return to driving. He has also regained significant physical strength and can now perform 20 consecutive push-ups.
A.S., who has received two medals and certificates of excellence for his operational and counterterrorism work, now walks almost normally, drives and trains.
“An incredible job was done here to return me to a normal life,” he said. “The team adapted completely to my pace and my motivation. Today I walk almost normally, I am engaged in training, and my goal is to return to fighting.”
This week, A.S. returned to Bnai Zion to say goodbye to the team that accompanied him throughout his rehabilitation and meet with the center’s CEO, Prof. Ohad Hochman.
“Rehabilitation of a multi-system injury requires a combination of physical, cognitive, and emotional treatment,” said Dr. Amichai Levkowitz, director of the neurological rehabilitation and day rehabilitation unit. “In this case, we met a fighter with extraordinary determination.”
Hochman described A.S.’s recovery as an example of “human strength and the power of rehabilitation medicine,” saying his return to independent functioning and goal of returning to combat were “a great source of pride” for the medical center.
