Golani Brigade Commander Colonel Avi Peled, who was wounded in Operation Cast Lead and refused evacuation to hospital until the last of his wounded soldiers was removed from the battle scene, spoke out in frustration now that the government pulled IDF troops out of Gaza.

“It is a double failure. We did not prevent his kidnapping and now, we did not bring him home,” stated the senior commander in an exclusive interview in the daily Maariv.

The 39-year-old commander is regarded as a national hero, a title he shuns, telling reporters he did that which is expected of all officers of his rank. Regarding threats that lawsuits will be brought against him and other officers in European communities for their role in the Gaza War, Peled told his wife they can tour the United States instead of Europe. Peled, the last brigade commander of Gush Katif before the expulsion, was already viewed as a future member of the IDF General Staff then, in 2005, a most promising rising officer.

“I knew we would be returning this way” he stated in the interview, adding “now, it is entirely different, full of bombs.” During Cast Lead, Golani unveiled at least 50 tunnels.

In 2006, when Gilad Shalit was taken captive by Hamas from Kerem Shalom, Peled was the area commander. An officer and a soldier were also killed in the Hamas cross-border attack. In his first interview on the subject since the attack, he stated “It was a personal failure. I accept responsibility”.

Maj.-Gen. (reserves) Giora Eiland led the investigation into the cross-border attack, concluding there were some mistakes but not negligence. Nevertheless states Peled, he accepts the responsibility, adding, “I feel what I feel”.

Peled admits he has fears entering Gaza, as well as the “fantasy” that he would be bringing Shalit home with him, “returning that which was taken from under my command and haunting my neshama since. I waited for the moment. I was dying for them to tell me to find him and bring him home but the order never came.”

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)