Colonel Guy Madar Assumes Command of Yoav Brigade After Surviving Oct. 7 Wounds

Colonel Guy Madar has officially taken command of the IDF's Yoav Brigade, succeeding Colonel Aleph, who is concluding his military service. The handover ceremony took place at Camp Uziya and was attended by senior officers, including Major General Yaniv Asor, commander of the Southern Command, and Brigadier General Yisrael Friedler, commander of the "Edom" (80) Division.

On the morning of October 7, 2023, Madar, then a civilian, was at his in-laws' home in Kiryat Gat when the Hamas attack began. He immediately armed himself with his personal pistol and drove towards the Gaza border area, assisting a wounded Golani fighter en route. He later joined forces with Ran Guili, and together they operated near Kibbutz Alumim and the Nova music festival evacuation routes.

Madar and Guili were instrumental in helping over 150 civilians escape the festival and treating the wounded at a gas station near Kibbutz Sa'ad. While fighting near Kibbutz Alumim, their vehicle came under heavy fire, including an RPG attack. Madar sustained a severe ankle injury, and Guili was critically wounded. Madar remained injured in the field for approximately two and a half hours before a friendly IDF force nearly mistook him for an enemy combatant. He was identified by the tzitzit he wore and was evacuated to Beilinson Hospital in critical condition.

Following surgery and rehabilitation, Madar returned to active duty and was promoted to Colonel by the Chief of Staff in September 2026, leading to his current appointment. In his acceptance speech, Madar expressed deep commitment and pride in leading the Yoav Brigade, referencing its historical significance. He thanked his predecessor for a well-trained brigade and acknowledged his family's support, particularly his wife, for her strength during his recovery. He pledged to ensure the brigade's readiness to defeat any enemy and guarantee the safety of residents in the region, vowing to dedicate all his efforts, even his life, to defending the area.