IDF soldiers heading

‘We're lone soldiers, but we're not lonely’: How the IDF supports fighters without families

“Olim (immigrant) soldiers who come from abroad to Israel do it purely out of a sense of Zionism and because they really want to take part in helping Israel and helping the IDF.”

Staff Sergeant Oren Metzuyanim, a 21-year-old lone soldier at the main rehearsal of the 78th anniversary Independence Day ceremony, held at Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, on April 19, 2026.
 The 98th Division, the IDF's Special Forces Division, launched an attack and is fighting for the first time in the heart of Khan Yunis

IDF fails to rescue hostages in Gaza operation, two soldiers wounded