A New York tech founder has volunteered to serve with the elite unit of the Israel Defense Force after seeing the horror unfolding in the Middle East.
The Israeli government formally declare war on Sunday and gave the green light for ‘significant military steps’ to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip.
Noy Leyb, 32, was watching Hamas infiltrate Israel from New York City’s Upper East and decided to volunteer and has been encouraging others to also join.
‘I’m not one to document myself but us Israelis, us Jews, us people are living in a horror movie,’ he said in a video posted to Instagram.
‘The kidnappings, the hostages, the Hamas terrorists infiltrating Israel and lighting houses where people think they’re safe is unimaginable.
‘Being outside of Israel and being in New York is super hard for me and many Israelis.’
Noy Leyb, 32, was watching Hamas infiltrate Israel from New York City’s Upper East and decided to volunteer and serve with the elite unit of the Israel Defense Force
The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets
Leyb watched from afar, devastated, as at least 600 people were reportedly killed in Israel and more than 300 killed in Gaza – as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory.
‘Last night I opened a group for Israelis who want to go back and want to fight it’s been amazing to see everyone come together,’ he said.
‘I’m working with 180 other people in this group to get to Israel and hopefully some of us will be there tomorrow.
‘I think for me the hardest part has been telling my parents that I’m coming back.’
Following 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.’
‘No one is expecting me to come – my commanders even said there’s no expectation since I’m not in the country,’ Leyb told The Post.
‘For me, there’s no question. My heart is in Israel. There’s no chance anything would stop me from coming back.’
Leyb watched from afar, devastated, as at least 600 people were reportedly killed in Israel and more than 300 killed in Gaza – as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory
Following 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 he didn’t give the decision a second thought and started to cancel meetings and get-togethers, saying he hasn’t thought about a return date.
‘Maybe a day, a week or months from now. I’m leaving here on a one-way ticket, not sure when I’m coming back,’ he said.
Spending the early part of Saturday morning trying book a flight, Leyb secured a midnight plane.
‘I was yelling 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 going with, but I just need myself and that’s it.’
The reservist first enlisted in the IDF in 2009 at age 18 and already served the minimum 32 months.
‘We value the lives of women and children and innocent civilians,’ he said, noting that Israeli soldiers bring terrorists to the hospital for treatment.
The spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East
He then went on to draw a contrast with Hamas, which ‘puts rockets under schools, and use women and children as human shields.’
‘the savagery, the inhumanity – it’s like we’re in a dream,’ Leyb told the Post of the images he saw flooding online and broadcast globally.
‘This is what you see in the craziest action movies. But it’s happening right now.’
Leyb posted a video of himself with his passport and ticket with a discernable smile on his face knowing that he would be in Israel soon to show his support.
DailyMail.com has contacted Leyb for comment but he did not immediately respond.
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