Elhanan Team: Difference between revisions
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'''Elchanan Team''' was an operational team comprised of brothers Elchanan and Menachem Kalmanzon, and their nephew Itiel. The three fought for many hours in battles against [[Hamas]] militant who carried out a [[Be'eri massacre|massacre in Kibbutz Be'eri]] in the [[Gaza Strip]] area, and rescued about 100 members of the kibbutz. In March 2024, it was decided to award the team the [[Israel Prize]] for Civil Courage for their actions in stopping the massacre. |
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'''Elhanan Team''', also spelled '''Elchanan Team''' or '''Kalmanson Team''' ({{langx|he|צוות קלמנזון}}), consisted of brothers Elhanan (also spelled Elchanan) and Menachem Kalmanson and their nephew Itiel Zohar. After the outbreak of the [[October 7 attacks]], the three traveled from their home to confront [[Hamas]] militants during the [[Be'eri massacre|massacre in Kibbutz Be'eri]] near the [[Gaza Strip]]. Elhanan was killed on the morning of October 8. |
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For their actions, the team was awarded a special [[Israel Prize]] for Civilian Heroism in 2024. |
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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On the morning of 7 October |
On the morning of 7 October 2023, Saturday, [[Simchat Torah]], the 22nd of Tishrei 5784, the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant organizations launched a [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|surprise attack on Israel]]. Under the cover of firing thousands of rockets, approximately 3,500 militants infiltrated from the Gaza Strip into dozens of Israeli communities and military facilities in the area of the Gaza Strip and its surroundings, engaging in firefights with limited security forces. The militants carried out massacres and rapes, murdering 1,150 people, including 779<ref>{{Cite web |title=100 ימי לחימה: 779 אזרחים נרצחו, 52,571 נפגעו |url=https://www.inn.co.il/news/626137 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.inn.co.il}}</ref> civilians, and abducting about 253 people, including women, elderly and infants, to the Gaza Strip. In the early hours, they were confronted by reserve forces, Israel Police officers, Border Police fighters, and IDF soldiers who were outnumbered. In the battles, about 1,550<ref>{{Cite web |last=השבת |first=כתבי כיכר |date=2023-10-10 |title=1,000 נרצחים בדרום {{!}} ישראל מותקפ.. |url=https://www.kikar.co.il/israel-news/s2aoyf |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=כיכר השבת |language=he}}</ref> militants were killed on Israeli soil, and on the Israeli side, 55<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-18 |title=הותרו לפרסום שמותיהם של 55 שוטרים שנרצחו במתקפת הטרור |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/news/israel/Article-1043386 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.maariv.co.il |language=he}}</ref> police officers, 10<ref>{{Cite web |title=ראש השב"כ לשעבר נדב ארגמן בריאיון בלעדי - אולפן שישי 21.10.23 {{!}} קטעים קצרים {{!}} +12 |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-channel12?subChannelId=9246d831d1e4a810VgnVCM200000650a10acRCRD&vcmid=ff8e67a79de4b810VgnVCM100000700a10acRCRD |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=12+| date=21 October 2023 }}</ref> members of the General Security Service, and 301 soldiers were killed. |
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One of the largest massacres in the surprise attack was the |
One of the largest massacres in the surprise attack was the [[Be'eri massacre|Be'eri Massacre]], in which about a hundred civilians and security personnel were killed. |
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==Events == |
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== Course of the Battles == |
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After the outbreak of the [[October 7 attacks]], brothers Elhanan and Menachem Kalmanson and their nephew Itiel Zohar traveled from their home in [[Otniel]] to [[Kibbutz Be'eri]] near the [[Gaza Strip]].<ref name="ToIIsraelPrize">{{cite news |title=Israel Prize for heroism goes to two civilians who rescued dozens at Kibbutz Be’eri |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-prize-for-heroism-goes-to-two-civilians-who-rescued-dozens-at-kibbutz-beeri/ |access-date=11 May 2024 |work=[[Times of Israel]] |date=2024-03-19}}</ref> They evavuated civilians from Kibbutz Be'eri from 6:00 p.m., and their nephew Itiel joined them a little later. The team operated for about 16 hours under fire, using an IDF armored vehicle they had found abandoned on a roadside. At 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, they encountered a militant dressed in black who was hiding in the corner of one of the houses and opened fire on Elchanan with a burst of bullets. Elchanan shouted 'I've been hit' and fell near the entrance of the house. His teammates shot at the militant and rescued Elchanan, but the militant was not killed. Elchanan lost consciousness. After the arrival of an IDF force that provided cover, Elchanan was evacuated to a field hospital, where they waited for his evacuation by helicopter to a hospital, but they were forced to declare him dead on the spot.<ref>{{Cite news |last=חדשות |date=2024-03-19 |title=פרס ישראל על גבורה אזרחית יוענק לחברי "צוות אלחנן", שהצילו עשרות אנשים בבארי |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/ryu740laa |access-date=2024-03-19 |work=Ynet |language=he}}</ref> |
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The |
The Elhanan team rescued about 100 members of the kibbutz under fire and for many hours.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-24 |title=חילוץ הירואי מבארי • צפו: מפגש מרגש בין המחלצים ל-100 הניצולים |url=https://ch10.co.il/news/862165/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=חרדים10 |language=he-IL}}</ref> |
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According to Education Minister [[Yoav Kisch]], the team is credited with saving the lives of dozens of residents of the kibbutz.<ref name="ToIIsraelPrize" /> |
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== Tribute == |
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| ⚫ | |||
== |
==Legacy== |
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| ⚫ | On March 19, 2024, Kisch awarded the Elhanan Team a special [[Israel Prize]], Israel's highest civilian honor, in the Civilian Heroism category, for their actions on October 7. The justification for the award stated: "Menachem Kalmanson, his late brother Elchanan, and their nephew Itiel Zohar left their home in Itamar on Simchat Torah to save the lives of residents of the communities in the Gaza Strip area. Despite being told they were not needed, they arrived at Kibbutz Be'eri and entered the besieged kibbutz time and time again for many hours, thus saving dozens of kibbutz residents. In the last house they entered, a militant lay in ambush and shot and killed Elchanan Kalmanzohn, brother of Menachem."<ref>{{Cite web |title=שר החינוך, יואב קיש, הודיע הבוקר, כי פרס ישראל בתחום תקומה וגבורה אזרחית יוענק השנה למנחם קלמנזון ולאיתיאל זוהר - "צוות אלחנן" |url=https://www.gov.il/he/departments/news/prass-israel-2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=גיבורי ה-7 באוקטובר: פרס ישראל לתקומה יוענק ל'צוות קלמנזון' |url=https://www.inn.co.il/news/632422 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.inn.co.il}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Israel Prize in the civic heroism category awarded to 'Elchanan Team' |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-792673 |access-date=11 May 2024 |work=[[Jerusalem Post]] |date=2024-03-19}}</ref><ref name="ToIIsraelPrize" /> |
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{{Reference list}} |
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In her lectures and interviews around the world, [[Orit Mark Ettinger]], Kalmanson's cousin, tells the story of their heroism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Israel |first=David |date=2019-06-28 |title=After Losing her Father and Brother, She Discovered Light Could Be Extracted from the Darkness |url=https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/after-losing-her-father-and-brother-she-discovered-light-could-be-extracted-from-the-darkness/2019/06/28/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== References == |
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{{Reflist}}{{Israel–Hamas war}} |
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[[Category:Israel Prize recipients]] |
[[Category:Israel Prize recipients]] |
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[[Category:People of the Israel–Hamas war]] |
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Latest revision as of 08:25, 4 November 2024
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Elhanan Team, also spelled Elchanan Team or Kalmanson Team (Hebrew: צוות קלמנזון), consisted of brothers Elhanan (also spelled Elchanan) and Menachem Kalmanson and their nephew Itiel Zohar. After the outbreak of the October 7 attacks, the three traveled from their home to confront Hamas militants during the massacre in Kibbutz Be'eri near the Gaza Strip. Elhanan was killed on the morning of October 8.
For their actions, the team was awarded a special Israel Prize for Civilian Heroism in 2024.
Background
[edit]On the morning of 7 October 2023, Saturday, Simchat Torah, the 22nd of Tishrei 5784, the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant organizations launched a surprise attack on Israel. Under the cover of firing thousands of rockets, approximately 3,500 militants infiltrated from the Gaza Strip into dozens of Israeli communities and military facilities in the area of the Gaza Strip and its surroundings, engaging in firefights with limited security forces. The militants carried out massacres and rapes, murdering 1,150 people, including 779[1] civilians, and abducting about 253 people, including women, elderly and infants, to the Gaza Strip. In the early hours, they were confronted by reserve forces, Israel Police officers, Border Police fighters, and IDF soldiers who were outnumbered. In the battles, about 1,550[2] militants were killed on Israeli soil, and on the Israeli side, 55[3] police officers, 10[4] members of the General Security Service, and 301 soldiers were killed.
One of the largest massacres in the surprise attack was the Be'eri Massacre, in which about a hundred civilians and security personnel were killed.
Events
[edit]After the outbreak of the October 7 attacks, brothers Elhanan and Menachem Kalmanson and their nephew Itiel Zohar traveled from their home in Otniel to Kibbutz Be'eri near the Gaza Strip.[5] They evavuated civilians from Kibbutz Be'eri from 6:00 p.m., and their nephew Itiel joined them a little later. The team operated for about 16 hours under fire, using an IDF armored vehicle they had found abandoned on a roadside. At 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, they encountered a militant dressed in black who was hiding in the corner of one of the houses and opened fire on Elchanan with a burst of bullets. Elchanan shouted 'I've been hit' and fell near the entrance of the house. His teammates shot at the militant and rescued Elchanan, but the militant was not killed. Elchanan lost consciousness. After the arrival of an IDF force that provided cover, Elchanan was evacuated to a field hospital, where they waited for his evacuation by helicopter to a hospital, but they were forced to declare him dead on the spot.[6]
The Elhanan team rescued about 100 members of the kibbutz under fire and for many hours.[7]
According to Education Minister Yoav Kisch, the team is credited with saving the lives of dozens of residents of the kibbutz.[5]
Legacy
[edit]On March 19, 2024, Kisch awarded the Elhanan Team a special Israel Prize, Israel's highest civilian honor, in the Civilian Heroism category, for their actions on October 7. The justification for the award stated: "Menachem Kalmanson, his late brother Elchanan, and their nephew Itiel Zohar left their home in Itamar on Simchat Torah to save the lives of residents of the communities in the Gaza Strip area. Despite being told they were not needed, they arrived at Kibbutz Be'eri and entered the besieged kibbutz time and time again for many hours, thus saving dozens of kibbutz residents. In the last house they entered, a militant lay in ambush and shot and killed Elchanan Kalmanzohn, brother of Menachem."[8][9][10][5]
In her lectures and interviews around the world, Orit Mark Ettinger, Kalmanson's cousin, tells the story of their heroism.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "100 ימי לחימה: 779 אזרחים נרצחו, 52,571 נפגעו". www.inn.co.il. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ השבת, כתבי כיכר (2023-10-10). "1,000 נרצחים בדרום | ישראל מותקפ." כיכר השבת (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ "הותרו לפרסום שמותיהם של 55 שוטרים שנרצחו במתקפת הטרור". www.maariv.co.il (in Hebrew). 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ "ראש השב"כ לשעבר נדב ארגמן בריאיון בלעדי - אולפן שישי 21.10.23 | קטעים קצרים | +12". 12+. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ a b c "Israel Prize for heroism goes to two civilians who rescued dozens at Kibbutz Be'eri". Times of Israel. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ חדשות (2024-03-19). "פרס ישראל על גבורה אזרחית יוענק לחברי "צוות אלחנן", שהצילו עשרות אנשים בבארי". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ "חילוץ הירואי מבארי • צפו: מפגש מרגש בין המחלצים ל-100 הניצולים". חרדים10 (in Hebrew). 2023-11-24. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ "שר החינוך, יואב קיש, הודיע הבוקר, כי פרס ישראל בתחום תקומה וגבורה אזרחית יוענק השנה למנחם קלמנזון ולאיתיאל זוהר - "צוות אלחנן"".
- ^ "גיבורי ה-7 באוקטובר: פרס ישראל לתקומה יוענק ל'צוות קלמנזון'". www.inn.co.il. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ "Israel Prize in the civic heroism category awarded to 'Elchanan Team'". Jerusalem Post. 2024-03-19. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Israel, David (2019-06-28). "After Losing her Father and Brother, She Discovered Light Could Be Extracted from the Darkness". Retrieved 2024-05-24.
