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, identified only as Y, was securing tank and engineering forces conducting drilling work. A bulldozer operator unknowingly dumped earth on the soldiers' tent, trapping Y beneath the debris. While two comrades escaped, Y was unable to move and feared he would not survive.

Y's team frantically dug with their bare hands to reach him, eventually locating one of his legs and then his head. They found a heavy wooden beam pressing on his chest, which was removed using engineering equipment. After 15 minutes, Y was partially able to breathe again. His protective gear, including front and side body armor, likely saved his life by preventing total lung collapse, although it was shattered and several ribs were broken.

Y was evacuated by helicopter to a hospital in southern Israel and then transferred to Hadassah Medical Center, where he underwent a complex robotic spinal surgery led by Professor Josh Schroeder. The surgery addressed severe chest trauma, including multiple rib fractures and lung injuries, which are typically fatal under such pressure. The medical team included spine surgery experts and anesthesiologists who managed his critical care.

Following surgery, Y began intensive rehabilitation at Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital to restore respiratory function, muscle strength, and mobility. Despite initial difficulties with basic actions like deep breathing and walking, Y remained determined, stating, "I knew I was coming back to myself." He credits his survival to his teammates' relentless efforts to rescue him and expresses optimism about his recovery, saying, "I will do everything; it’s just a matter of time."