It has been 3.5 years since the government’s expulsion of Jews from Gaza, and today, during Operation Cast Lead, many of the former Jewish residents of Gaza are returning, as IDF soldiers fighting to halt rocket attacks into southern Israel.

Among the soldiers who fought their way to the ruins of the former community of Netzarim was a young officer, Aaron Cruz, who was married on Thursday and on erev Shabbos, he was called back to his combat unit due to the state of emergency. Cruz was called to an area he knows well, an area that was once home. His father, Rav Ze’ev Cruz explains that the reality is an emotional one, stating on the one hand one must question “why did we leave at all? What was gained? And on the other side, Aaron is pleased to be stepping foot in Gaza once again”.

For Ami Shaked, a former Gush Katif security officer who responded to many attacks during his years in Gaza, it is a difficult time. Shaked today is a manager of the Kerem Shalom Crossing in southern Gaza. His son is serving in the paratroop corps and he was among the infantry soldiers entering on motzei Shabbos.

“This is the first war that my son is defending me and not the other way around,” stated the senior Shaked. “All the warnings came true. Why were we expelled? What was accomplished by the move?”

Then there is Yossi Neumann, an IDF reserve duty officer, another former resident of Gush Katif. Neumann was called up as was his son Etai, a tank commander, who was sent to the area of Netzarim. The Neumanns were residents of N’vei Dekalim.

“It is a lousy feeling” explains Yossi. “I am being called up, my son is already fighting and for what, for that which we already had.”

“We warned the rockets would follow us into Ashkelon. We warned that we will be compelled to return. We lost our homes, our lives, everything. We received nothing in return, absolutely nothing.”

There are other symbols of the pain, the struggle against the disengagement. One of the outspoken leaders of the battle against the expulsion was Tzviki Bar-Chai, today the head of the Southern Chevron Hills Regional Council. During the disengagement, Tviki was the operations officer for the Yesha Settlement Council.

On Sunday, the first day of the infantry battle, Bar-Chai’s son Dvir was seriously wounded. In his back pack was an orange flag which he had planned to raise at some point, perhaps his revenge for the expulsion. Dvir sustained serious injuries to his legs from a mortar attack.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)