Israeli-Canadian reservists say they have ‘no choice’ but to report for duty
Israel in 2020 to join the Israel Defense Forces. Released from service last year, Silver said she recently responded to a call asking members of her former platoon to voluntarily return to duty after Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday.Hundreds of people, including young children, were killed in the attacks, whose targets included a music festival and communal farming settlements.
“What else is there to do but go out and fight?” Silver asked.Israeli-Canadian reservists like her say they’re volunteering because they believe it’s the right thing to do, even though they’re not looking forward to combat.“If you don’t believe that this will succeed, then you don’t believe that you see a tomorrow for future generations of Israel, of Jews, of your brothers and sisters. There is no choice,” she said in an interview Wednesday.Silver decided to stay in Israel after she left the military and now lives near Tel Aviv.
She said she believes success in Israel’s war with Hamas will involve freeing the more than 150 hostages held by militant groups, as well as ensuring the safety of Israelis.“War is not a pretty thing. Even though I served in the army and I served as a combat soldier, I’m not sitting here happy that we’re going to war,” she said.
“It’s a horrifying thing. It takes resources, it takes lives, it takes pain and it takes from people’s hearts.”Silver said she moved to Israel as a “lone soldier” — someone from another country who doesn’t have family in Israel — after seeing antisemitic incidents in her high school.
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