When the battle is behind them, footvolley reconnects them with life

Elia, a reserve combat paramedic, was called up to the Gaza border communities on October 7 and later entered the ground operation in Gaza. In a mass-casualty incident, she had to treat her fellow company members under fire: the people she fought alongside and whose lives she was responsible for. During that incident, she lost her friend, reserve Staff Sergeant First Class Amichai Oster.

Sebastian, an officer in the Combat Engineering Corps, fought for 138 days in Beit Hanoun and Khan Yunis. After 22 consecutive days of fighting, he took his soldiers for a break and met residents waiting with hugs and gratitude. It was there, after weeks of combat, that he says he understood the strength of the people and the purpose for which they had gone to fight.

In recent months, Elia founded Strong Net, an initiative connecting men and women with combat experiences through footvolley, helping them return to movement, the sand and a community. Sebastian, captain of Afeka College’s footvolley team, also participates in the initiative.

Photo: Shay Franco