IDF officer on balancing aid distribution, freeing hostages
Lieutenant-Col. M., Head of the Department of Foreign Relations for Gaza, Directorate of Coordination and Contact (CLD). (Photo Loan: IDF Spokesman
M., a mother of four people and a high -tech professor, explained her task in five words: “Returning hostages and rejecting Hamas aid.”
“As a uniformed officer, my role is to protect the state of Israel and everyone who lives here,” Lieutenant-Col. M., 42, Head of Foreign Relations Department of Coordination and Contact Directorate for Gaza, Walla In an interview.
Since December 2024, he has supervised his coordination. Humanitarian Aid Activity In the Gaza Strip with dozens of international organizations.
A four -person mother and wife told the high -tech professional: “Returning hostages and rejecting Hamas aid.”
Most Most of our work involves coordinating human efforts with actors inside and outside the Gaza Strip, ”he said. “We bring humanitarian aid and coordinate the release of patients and the safe transfer of foreign nationals.”
The role extends far beyond controlling the help trucks. “There is a coordination that is not food like medical equipment, blood units and more. On the one hand, we are fighting and at the same time medical teams or human convoys should act during or near the war zones. These are two parallel efforts to be synchronized.”
IDF soldiers operating in the Gaza Strip, August 12, 2025. (Credit: IDF Spokesperson Unit)
M. said that the looting of help is routine. “Most of the trucks are looted along the way.
In addition, the Israeli strike had to deal with complex events, including the deaths of the world center Kitchen (WCK) staff. “After every event, we stand, we are investigating, we examine what is happening, and we try to understand why. Gaza is a war area. This is not a sterile area.”
Returning hostages
M., hostages returned and Palestinian prisoners were released directly participated in the ‘Derec Eretz’ operation. “The truth is, the ‘Derec Eretz’ operation shook me the most,” he remembered. “To see the coffins of our hostages – you will be hurt, as a human being, you need to cry on a nation, an army and bring yourself together after a minute, remember that you are in an operational task and continue.”
“Hostages are my priority, M. said M.“ If some of the help we brought reached them and kept them alive one more day, I won my bread. This is my life’s duty. ”
Despite the trip, the war is not against Gaza civilians, but Hamas. “I will do everything to prevent Hamas from accessing humanitarian aid. And I live in the hope that I will get the call at any time: prepare for another hostage return.”
