The IDF has in recent weeks stepped up training of armed civilian response squads in Israeli communities located near the Gaza Strip, reflecting a new security approach that gives the squads an official standing in the military’s defenses against terrorist infiltration.
The development comes a few months after Hamas repeatedly attempted to send murder squads from Gaza into southern Israel through tunnels, to carry out atrocities and kidnappings during the summer conflict with Israel. Now, the IDF is looking ahead to the next time Gazan terrorists will seek to get into Israel and carry out attacks.
Squads are made up of local civilians who have access to IDF-issued firearms, including M-16 rifles, ceramic vests, and helmets. As the IDF prepares for future attempts by Hamas and other Gaza terror groups to enter Israel and go on killing sprees in civilian areas, the squads’ importance in military eyes is growing.
Lt. Cold. Imad Sif, the territorial defense officer in the IDF’s Gaza Division, told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that following Operation Protective Edge this summer, the army “took a decision to significantly improve the readiness of the response squads.” “As part of a drive to improve the security of Gaza-border communities, we included them in our approach, adding them to the operational response to threats,” Sif said.
Over the past month and a half, some 49 squads held a series of intensive training sessions. The first part of the sessions, held at the Lakhish Command Training base, saw civilian responders improve their firearms skills, and test responses to a scenario involving a terrorist who entered a civilian home.
The second part of the drill saw members of the squads return to their communities, and spend a day drilling various terrorist scenarios.
With each community divided into mini-sectors, the squads drilled coordinating armed responses and managing crises until the IDF arrives and takes over.
“They can provide 360 degree protection around a community,” Sif said.
“Today, I can say that the level of training and response has improved significantly. We understand that a number of attackers, or a lone terrorist, can reach a community before the army gets there.
Therefore, to reduce damage that can result from an infiltration, we have placed these squads into our security approach. They will be the first response in neutralizing terrorists, until the first available army unit arrives and takes command.” Sif stressed that IDF provides near hermetical protection to Gaza-border communities, but acknowledged that “there are instances in which terrorists might be able to break through our contact lines and reach communities.” He described the process of “handing over the baton” in which the army rapidly arrives at an area under attack, and is led by members of the squad to the location of terrorists.
Communications between the squads and the army are the responsibility of a civilian security coordinator. Last month, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon decided to reverse an early decision by the Ministry of Defense and maintain the current number of full-time coordinators protecting front line communities.
“The coordinators scramble response squads and communicate with the army as soon as an infiltration occurs,” explained Sif. “This is someone who lives in the area and is a liason person for us. He is on call 24 hours a day, and if he leaves the area, a preselected deputy takes over.” This month, Sderot received its own response squad as well, Sif said.
“Sderot is very close to the border, and is part of the group of areas threatened by infiltration. We assembled the squad from young guys who are former army soldiers. I’m glad to say we got a very high number of volunteers, and the backing of the mayor and municipal security officer. A squad has been lacking in Sderot for years,” Sif added.
Capt. Natanel David Hai, Medical Officer in the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade, told the Post that as part of the stepped up preparations, medics and doctors in areas near Gaza held a drill this week practicing emergency medical responses to terrorist attacks.
“We have seen the threat of infiltration rising. It was already there, but prior to this summer, it wasn’t in the awareness of many residents,” he said. “In the evenings, after work, we trained local residents who are medics, paramedics, and doctors living near Gaza. We want them to be able to provide the right medical treatment, like stopping bleeding, on the scene,” David Hai said.
The training, which included civilian and reservist medics and doctors, lasted two days, and taught volunteers how to keep airways open, evacuate the wounded from danger zones, and getting them to hospital within 60 minutes of sustaining the injury.
“It’s not a question of if, but when the threat will materialize,” David Hai said. “We are preparing for the next time. I think we did unequivocally improve the chances of patients surviving. An attack by terrorists who arrived via a tunnel is very difficult to deal with. we don’t know how long the injured will be without a full medical crew. But we do know that the treatment will definitely be better after this training.”
An Israeli version of the Kkkk ?