Channel 14 reporter Avraham Hasson gave an emotional interview on Friday about his close friend, Lt. Col. Dor Gadalia Ben Shimon, who was killed overnight in a serious incident in southern Lebanon. Ben Shimon died after a “suspicious target” fired by Hezbollah hit a tank from Battalion 52, in a battle that also killed the battalion commander and three other soldiers. After the incident, the IDF carried out extensive strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Hasson, who served with Ben Shimon in officers’ course and is also in reserve duty now, said he set aside his reporting role to speak as a friend. He described Ben Shimon as a man of action and giving, saying, “When he had a mission, he smiled and did it, בלי לשאול שאלות,” meaning he carried it out without asking questions. He said Ben Shimon took command of Battalion 52 during the commanders’ course after the previous commander was wounded about three months ago, and accepted the role even though he had not completed the course.
He also recalled a moment from their officers’ course WhatsApp group. According to Hasson, when Ben Shimon came to learn the battalion’s situation before going into combat, a friend told him, “Dor, take care of yourself.” Ben Shimon answered with a smile, “Don’t worry, you know how good I am,” which Hasson said captured his personality. Hasson learned of the death overnight from military reports, and only later realized his friend was among the fallen.
Hasson said Ben Shimon had been close to the rear but chose to be in the field with his soldiers. He called him “one of the leaders of the group” and “a person who acted out of a sense of mission at every moment,” ending with, “May his memory be blessed.”
