In the early morning of October 7, Hof Ashkelon Regional Council head Itamar Revivo woke up to the sound of sirens, and out of habit, went to the communities he's responsible for. Until security official Amnon Ziv said there was a shooting in a town under his jurisdiction, Netiv Ha'asara.
He quickly worked to evacuate the wounded, including IDF soldiers, who were under fire, just as he did back in 2021 during Operation Guardians of the Wall.
"We went from house to house and evacuated the wounded," Revivo told Walla. "Without our intervention, the outcome could have been far more tragic."
Rescuing the wounded from Hamas gunfire
As they arrived at Nativ Ha'asara, gunfire erupted. Undeterred, Revivo donned a protective vest and entered the police station, where an emergency room had been set up. Soon after, a terrorist convoy approached the town, and the emergency standby squad engaged in a fierce firefight.
While the IDF battled the terrorists, Revivo observed that they had thwarted a group of 30 Hamas motorcycles en route to Ashkelon. Utilizing an armored vehicle, they breached a closed gate and proceeded to assist in the rescue efforts. Despite ongoing rocket attacks and the terrorists' gunfire, Revivo, alongside Itai Levy from Netiv Ha'asara, courageously evacuated wounded individuals from the town.
"We received distress calls from people in the town, pleading for help," said Revivo. "Rescue forces couldn't enter the area due to the ongoing danger. We entered homes and transported the wounded to safe locations." Revivo returned to the scene multiple times, successfully rescuing 15 wounded victims.
One particular incident stood out.
"We entered a house where children were crying for help. Their father was tragically murdered, but we managed to save the seriously injured child. Doctors later confirmed that our timely intervention likely altered the outcome," Revivo recounted. The scale of the devastation became apparent as military forces arrived, revealing bodies strewn throughout and wounded individuals desperately seeking assistance.
Throughout the harrowing ordeal, Itamar Revivo's heroism shone as he selflessly maneuvered through danger, evacuating the wounded and providing a glimmer of hope amid the chaos. His actions embody the true spirit of resilience in the face of relentless adversity.
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