Barak Division Honors Fallen Soldiers, Acknowledges October 7th Failures

Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba

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The 'Barak' (188) Division held its annual memorial ceremony for its fallen soldiers, attended by senior military officials and bereaved families. The Commander of the Northern Command acknowledged failures on October 7th, while the Brigade Commander highlighted ongoing operations in Lebanon. A representative of the bereaved families spoke about the strong support network within the division. The ceremony honored the 368 fallen soldiers of the division and recalled historical sacrifices.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

The 'Barak' (188) Division held its annual memorial ceremony for its 368 fallen soldiers.
Northern Command chief acknowledged failures in defending Gaza envelope residents on October 7th.
The division's commander stated its battalions are currently operating deep within Lebanon.
A bereaved family representative described the division's support network as a "home" and "family."
The ceremony honored soldiers who fell in past conflicts and on October 7th.

The annual memorial ceremony for the fallen soldiers of the 'Barak' (188) Division was held last week at the Brigade's Heritage, Commemoration, and Valor Center. The event was led by the Commander of the Northern Command and attended by the Commander of the 'Ga'ash' (36) Division, Yiftah Nurkin, the Chief of Armored Corps, Or Volozhinsky, and the Commander of the 'Barak' (188) Division, Miki Sharvit. Bereaved families, wounded veterans, and current and former soldiers of the division were also present.

Gali Sidi, wife of the late Lt. Col. Oren Sidi, a fallen Battalion 74 commander, spoke on behalf of the bereaved families. She described the 'Barak' Division's bereaved families as "the most pained, proudest, and strongest family," emphasizing that "we discovered that we are not alone." She highlighted the division as a "home, a whole family that hugs, arrives, and lifts us in dark moments," noting how older families, some mourning since the First Lebanon War, support newer ones.

Commander of the Northern Command addressed the gathering, paying respects to the 368 fallen soldiers of the division. He acknowledged the failures in defending the residents of the Gaza envelope on October 7th, stating, "We failed in defending the residents of the Gaza envelope." the Commander of the Northern Command recounted how division soldiers responded bravely on October 7th, using tanks from Tz'alim to fight Hamas attackers in the Gaza envelope communities, but noted the price was very high. He stressed that the division's legacy serves as a compass and that the bond with the families is unbreakable. "The mission is not yet complete. There are still challenges and threats, but even after three years of war, our spirit is strong," he declared, vowing to continue defending Israel with the spirit of the Barak Division.

Brigade Commander Miki Sharvit stated that the division has been fighting on the front lines continuously for the past three years, with its battalions currently operating deep in Lebanon. He emphasized the importance of remembering the fallen soldiers and drawing inspiration from their spirit, heroism, and willingness to sacrifice for the nation's security. Sharvit recalled the heavy losses of the division's command echelon on October 7th, 1973, during the battle for Nafah, including the brigade commander, Lt. Col. Yitzhak Ben Shoham, his deputy, Lt. Col. David Israeli, and the operations officer. He quoted from David Israeli's "Warrior's Testament," written as a recruit, which expressed a desire for victory and peace for the people of Israel.