Israeli Haruv Commando Survives Being Buried Under Gaza Rubble for 15 Minutes

An Israeli soldier from the Haruv reconnaissance unit was buried under rubble in Gaza for 15 minutes, with his head pressed into the ground and his lungs crushed. The incident occurred two months ago during an operational mission in the Yellow Line area of Gaza, where the soldier and his team were securing tank and engineering forces conducting drilling work. A bulldozer accidentally dumped earth on their position, trapping the soldier beneath the debris. While two teammates escaped, he was unable to move and feared for his life.

His comrades frantically dug with their bare hands to reach him, eventually locating one of his legs and then his head. They discovered a heavy wooden beam pressing on his chest, severely restricting his breathing. The beam was removed using engineering equipment, and after 15 minutes, the soldier was able to breathe partially. His protective gear, including a front and side helmet, helped prevent total lung collapse, though it was damaged and several ribs were broken.

He was evacuated by helicopter to a hospital in southern Israel and then transferred to Hadassah Medical Center, where he underwent a life-saving minimally invasive robotic spinal surgery led by Professor Josh Schroeder and a team of specialists. The surgery addressed extensive rib fractures, lung damage, internal bleeding, and respiratory complications. Following surgery, the soldier began intensive rehabilitation to restore respiratory function, muscle strength, and mobility.

Despite the severity of his injuries, the soldier has made significant progress and has even returned to standing. He credits his survival to his teammates' determination and his own belief in recovery. His cousin, Dr. Ayelet Hashahar Bar Noy, an orthopedic resident at Hadassah Ein Kerem, described his pain relief and gradual improvement post-surgery. The soldier remains optimistic about his full recovery, stating, "I will do everything; it’s just a matter of time."