WhatsNew2Day – Latest News And Breaking Headlines
A New York tech founder has volunteered to serve in the elite Israel Defense Force unit after watching the horrors unfold in the Middle East.
The Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light to “major military steps” in retaliation against Hamas for the surprise attack from the Gaza Strip.
Noy Leyb, 32, saw Hamas infiltrating Israel from Upper East New York City and decided to volunteer and encouraged others to join as well.
“I am not one to document myself, but we Israelis, we Jews and we humans are living in a horror movie,” he said in a video on Instagram.
“The kidnappings, the hostages, the Hamas terrorists infiltrating Israel and burning down homes where people think they are safe are unimaginable.
“Being outside Israel and being in New York is super difficult for me and for many Israelis.”
Noy Leyb, 32, watched Hamas infiltrate Israel from Upper East New York City and decided to volunteer and serve in the elite Israel Defense Force unit.
Gaza Strip’s militant Hamas rulers launched an unprecedented multi-front attack on Israel at dawn on Saturday, firing thousands of rockets.
Leyb watched from afar, devastated, as at least 600 people were reportedly killed in Israel and more than 300 in Gaza – as Israeli airstrikes pounded the area.
“Last night I opened a group for Israelis who want to get back and fight. “It was great to see everyone come together,” he said.
“I am working with 180 other people in this group to come to Israel and hopefully some of us will be there tomorrow.
“I think the hardest thing for me has been telling my parents that I’m coming back.”
After the video, the 32-year-old spoke to the New York Post saying that this was ‘not an operation’ and that he ‘fully expects to go to war’.
“No one expects me to come – my commanders even said there is no expectation because I am not in the country,” Leyb told The Post.
‘For me there is no doubt. My heart is in Israel. There’s no way anything’s going to stop me from coming back.”
Leyb watched from afar, devastated, as at least 600 people were reportedly killed in Israel and more than 300 in Gaza – as Israeli airstrikes pounded the area
After the video, the 32-year-old spoke to the New York Post, saying this was “not an operation” and that he “fully expects to go to war.”
Leyb told the outlet that he had not given the decision much thought and began canceling meetings and gatherings, saying he had not thought about a return date.
‘Maybe in a day, a week or months. “I’m leaving here on a one-way ticket, not sure when I’ll be back,” he said.
Leyb spent the first part of Saturday morning booking a flight and arranged a midnight plane.
“I yelled at the ticket agent why she couldn’t get me an earlier flight,” he told the outlet.
“I don’t even know what I packed or what I’m bringing, but I just need myself and that’s it.”
The reservist first enlisted in the IDF in 2009, at the age of 18, and had already completed the minimum age requirement of 32 months.
“We value the lives of women, children and innocent civilians,” he said, noting that Israeli soldiers take terrorists to hospital for treatment.
The increasing violence threatens to unleash a major new war in the Middle East
He then drew a contrast with Hamas, which “places rockets under schools and uses women and children as human shields.”
“The cruelty, the inhumanity – it’s like we’re living in a dream,” Leyb told the Post of the images he saw flooding online and being broadcast worldwide.
‘This is what you see in the craziest action movies. But it’s happening now.’
Leyb posted a video of himself holding his passport and ticket with a visible smile on his face, knowing he would soon be in Israel to show his support.
DailyMail.com contacted Leyb for comment but he did not immediately respond.