British-born youngsters enlisted into the Israeli army have spoken of the emotional burden of being called up in the Gaza conflict.
Their families voiced fears over the summons to the frontline to help fight Israel’s biggest war in a generation.
Leo Black, 29, is one of a number of British nationals who have been asked to defend Israel, after terror attacks by Hamas in the south left at least 900 Israeli civilians dead.
Born in Borehamwood near London, he enlisted in the Israeli army in 2018 where he served as a paratrooper. Now he is being called back to battle.
His girlfriend Sarina Carter, 23, from Edgware, who previously served as a combat support soldier for Paratroopers told the Daily Mail she will ‘cry her eyes out’ when he leaves again for war.
Leo Black, 29, is one of a number of British nationals who have been asked to defend Israel, after terror attacks by Hamas in the south left at least 900 Israeli civilians dead. His girlfriend Sarina Carter, 23, from Edgware, who previously served as a combat support soldier for Paratroopers told the Daily Mail she will ‘cry her eyes out’ when he leaves again for war
Leo Black, pictured, was born in Borehamwood near London, he enlisted in the Israeli army in 2018 where he served as a paratrooper. Now he is being called back to battle
She said: ‘I am absolutely terrified for Leo and I will cry my eyes out when he goes in a few days.
‘I have already lost several friends to the massacres and to the war with Hamas
‘Everyday my friends text me as if they will never see me again.
‘It is the same for everyone in Israel.
‘But although I am terrified for Leo I know he is going to fight for a great cause.
‘It is a privilege to serve in the IDF and to defend this country.
‘For us, serving in the Israeli military is the best way to fight anti-Semitism
‘When I went to Poland as a young girl I felt as though I had lost all my family to the gas chambers.
‘Since then I have seen it as my duty to defend Jewish people.’
At home, British families have been left worrying for the safety of their sons and brothers who are volunteering to serve in the Israeli military.
Mother of five Eva Karr, 47, from London told the Daily Mail she is ‘proud’ of her two sons – Aharon, 22, and Yisroel, 20 – who volunteered to serve as lone soldiers.
Lone soldiers is the term used to describe foreign nationals who volunteer to serve in the Israeli Defence Forces.
She discovered her sons had been called to war after a relative came to her house at 7am on Saturday morning, to inform her of the terror attacks in Israel.
Mrs Karr said: ‘My husband and I are observant Jews so we hadn’t checked our phones and hadn’t seen the news.
‘A friend came round to tell us that our sons had been called up to serve in the IDF and that there had been an enormous terror attack in Israel.
‘When I found out what had happened in Israel I was horrified. It is completely barbaric.
‘I have never seen such behaviour in my life. It was like a modern day pogrom.
‘My younger son, Yisroel – who is a combat soldier – knew Nathanel Young, the British, IDF soldier who was killed in Israel earlier this week.
‘His death felt very close to home. And I am so scared for my sons.
‘Still, I am very proud that they have chosen to defend Israel.’
Also worried for family members is Gideon Caplan, 24, an Account Exec from London.
He is ‘terrified’ for his younger brother who volunteered to serve in the Israeli Defence Forces in June 2022.
Mr Caplan said: ‘When I was at the Vigil outside Downing Street last night, it all hit me and I burst into tears.
‘I think my entire family is shocked that my brother is fighting in active combat, so quickly after enlisting into the IDF.
‘He is still in the middle of some of his more specialist training.
‘When I spoke to him on the phone on Sunday he was quite scared because he didn’t know where he was going to be sent.
‘I haven’t been able to speak to him since Sunday because the IDF has taken his phone.
‘My family are all very supportive, but we are of course very worried.’
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