In the Lion’s Den    

Deep in the northern Gaza Strip, Mishpacha’s Kobi Bornstein sees a moonscape which hides the Hamas terrorists still active underneath

“Welcome to Gaza,” shouts Yisrael, a reserve soldier, after we cross the barrier from Zikim into the northern Gaza Strip.

Something in the air changes right away. The soldiers who a moment ago were laughing and joshing about the situation are suddenly in a different mood, somber and alert.

The brigade commander fires instructions rapidly. “If there’s an encounter, we get out of the jeep immediately and lie down on the ground. The soldiers in the front will handle it. If there’s a suspicious drone or the possibility of anti-tank fire, we get out of the vehicle and follow the orders we are given. Hands on your weapons, eyes always forward.”