On June 12 of that year, Hamas kidnapped and murdered three Israeli teenagers; soon after, Israelis murdered a Palestinian teenager. The horrific exchange escalated into a larger conflict; ultimately some 70 Israelis and 2,250 Palestinians were killed over seven weeks. I wrote that some members of my team had been tallying the number of soldiers killed and discussing whether this operation was worth the losses. In the years since, Hamas has only grown stronger, despite our sacrifices and despite the death and destruction we had wrought on Gaza. My friend not only fought against Hamas during his final moments to protect his friends and family; he also fought against Hamas during years of activism against the occupation.

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Persons: postapocalyptic, There’s, Nasr, ”, “, Israel, Ami Ayalon, Shin Organizations: 993rd Nahal Brigade, Hamas, West Bank, Beit, Air Force Locations: Gaza, Palestinian, Umm al, Israel, Burrah, Beit Hanoun, Al