War Amputee Elisha Medan Sworn Into Knesset, Receives Standing Ovation
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
New Likud lawmaker Elisha Medan, who lost both legs in Gaza combat, was sworn into the Knesset on Tuesday and received a standing ovation. Medan, a father of six and former IDF reservist, was injured in November 2023. He has become a symbol of rehabilitation and national unity, advocating for a broad unity government. Netanyahu placed him on the Likud list, enabling his entry into parliament.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- New Likud lawmaker Elisha Medan, an amputee from Gaza combat, was sworn into the Knesset on Tuesday.
- Medan received a standing ovation from all Knesset members during the ceremony.
- He was severely wounded and lost both legs during an operation in Gaza on November 10, 2023.
- Medan advocates for a broad national unity government and has been placed on the Likud party list.
- He is the son of Rabbi Yaakov Medan and father of six children.
A deeply moving moment occurred Tuesday during the swearing-in ceremony for the 26th Knesset, Israel's parliament, as new Likud lawmaker Elisha Medan, 47, stood on his prosthetic legs to take his oath. Medan, a former IDF soldier who lost both legs after being severely wounded in Gaza, received a standing ovation from all Knesset members across the political spectrum.
Earlier, Medan had declared his intention to stand despite his physical challenges. "I decided that when I take the oath of allegiance to the Knesset and to the people of Israel, I will stand on my legs. I will do so despite the pain, the ongoing bleeding, and an uncertain medical situation," he had written.
Medan was injured on November 10, 2023, while serving as a reservist with the 697th Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade during an operation in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza. An explosive charge near a tunnel entrance killed four soldiers, including company commander Moshe Yedidya Leiter, son of Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Yehiel Leiter. Medan sustained severe injuries, leading to the amputation of both his legs.
After 53 days of hospitalization at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, he underwent extensive rehabilitation at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, returning home over a year later. Medan has become a public figure advocating for soldier rehabilitation and national unity. He is a father of six and the son of Rabbi Yaakov Medan, a leader at the Har Etzion yeshiva. He was involved in establishing the Mar'ol unit, specializing in search and tracking.
In April 2025, Medan was chosen to light one of the torches at the national Independence Day ceremony on Mount Herzl. Last September, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed him 15th on the Likud list, securing his entry into the Knesset. Medan advocates for a broad national unity government, suggesting a willingness to compromise on political views for the sake of governing together. "We fought side by side. We must also be able to work together," he stated.
Before his oath on Tuesday, he reiterated his call for a government uniting all segments of Israeli society, while rejecting a coalition dependent on the Islamic Movement and the Muslim Brotherhood. He concluded, "We will unite, we will rise, and we will continue to walk."
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