In a heartbreaking turn of events, families of young female spotters, who served along Israel's border with Gaza, are calling for answers following the tragic deaths of seven women during a recent attack. These brave young women, primarily in their late teens and early twenties, were tasked with monitoring a small section of the border, but their warnings went unheeded as violence erupted in the region. The incident raises critical questions about the effectiveness of Israel’s defense protocols and the treatment of these young women within the military hierarchy.
The spotters, often referred to as "the girls" by their families and in Israeli media, were part of observation units charged with reporting any suspicious activity. Despite their crucial role, they were not armed and served alongside the Gaza border, where tensions have escalated in recent months. Tragically, during an assault on their base, seven of these young women were killed, alongside 14 others who served in similar capacities.
Among them was Roni Eshel, a 19-year-old spotter who had reported seeing Hamas militants conducting training exercises near the Nahal Oz base. Her observations were detailed in daily reports throughout the summer and early autumn of 2023, yet her warnings appeared to fall on deaf ears. Other spotters echoed her concerns, collectively raising alarms about potential threats in the area.
Despite their vigilance and accuracy—Eshel's observations were deemed more reliable than those from senior military officials—the spotters were not given top command positions. Senior officers believed that Israel's high-tech defenses had secured the Gaza border. This belief proved to be tragically misplaced.
Eyal Eshel, Roni's father, expressed his dismay at the failure to heed his daughter's warnings. He stated, “Unfortunately I just have my story, my timeline,” emphasizing the lack of accountability in the aftermath of the attack. He further lamented, “All of us believed we had the strongest army, but it was a joke.”
The sense of security felt by the spotters was tragically misplaced. Yahel Oren, another parent affected by this tragedy, shared her thoughts on the false sense of safety that enveloped the young women. “We felt a sense of security, which was false,” she remarked. Following the attack, Oren expressed deep mistrust toward military leadership, stating, “There is no trust now. I don’t even know if my son will become a soldier.”
In light of these events, families are demanding a state commission of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and why their warnings went unaddressed. However, so far, the government has dismissed these requests. Eyal Eshel criticized the military's lack of attention to his daughter’s observations: “For months before, none of the senior officers in the IDF listened to them; they didn’t pay any attention to them.”
The families are also advocating for changes within military command structures. Eyal Eshel believes that more women should hold senior positions to ensure that voices like those of his daughter and her peers are heard. “I think the entire hierarchy needs restructuring; they need more women in high command,” he argued.
As the families continue their fight for justice and accountability, there is a sense of urgency regarding the remaining spotters who have been taken to Gaza. The families are united in their efforts to bring these women home safely and demand clarity about what happened during the attack on Nahal Oz. Oren stated, “Our next steps will be demanding the truth about what happened at Nahal Oz. For the sake of future spotters, we have to get answers.”