Young Aussie vows to fight in Israel conflict: 'I won't be a bystander'
Israel has called on thousands to return to the country to fight in the conflict.
As Israel calls on an unprecedented 300,000 army reserves to return home to fight against Hamas, an Aussie woman, who was due to attend the music festival where 260 revellers were brutally murdered, has revealed she has "her bags packed" and is ready to defend her birthplace.
Mai Gutman, 28, was born in Israel but relocated to Melbourne, where she grew up, when she was just 18-months-old. Now, the dual citizen lives in Ra’anana, north of Tel Aviv, and works as a public information officer with the Zionist Federation of Australia, News Corp outlets reported.
Speaking from the war-torn nation, Ms Gutman said she'll defend her country at all costs.
Aussie ready to fight on frontlines
"I have a moral imperative to be here," Ms Gutman told A Current Affair. "I think to myself: 'Where are you when it matters? Are you going to be a bystander? Are you going to be someone that looks on?
"There's definitely something that I can do, I'm a reservist. My dad is beside himself that he can't be here himself, honestly, every single person that we know has lost someone in the last couple of days.
"To be trembling in front of the news waiting to hear the name of a loved one come across the scene it's just terrifying, it's felt all over the world."
She was set to attend the Tribe of Nova music event in the Negev Desert, but in a last-minute decision had a change of heart. Ms Gutman said she awoke to messages from fellow partygoers pleading for help in WhatsApp groups, begging for intervention while desperately crying "people are dead, people are being shot at".
"In the end I decided not to go, but I stayed in the [messaging] groups and I still was in communication with those that had been there. The morning of the sirens, when I had woken up, my phone started pinging: 'Help us, help us, please help us, they're coming at us. They're shooting at us, my friend's dead, people are dying, there are bodies everywhere.'
Do you have a story to share, or know somebody affected by the conflict in Israel? Contact reporter Joe Attanasio at joe.attanasio@yahooinc.com
"But of course, there was nobody to call.
"To think that could have been me, to think that my friends were there — you don't expect that's where your life could end. "
Ms Gutman — a reservist of a search and rescue unit that engages in combat — "fully expects to be mobilised" and stationed in a unit in the north of the country.
More on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Shani Louk: Disturbing development after festivalgoer's naked body paraded through streets
Israel-Hamas conflict leaves 1,500 dead, including 11 U.S. citizens: Full coverage
Though the Aussie says her parents are terrified over the prospect of their daughter fighting in a war, she said they understand her need to defend her homeland.
Conflict continues to worsen
So far, since Palestinian forces launched the largest assault against Israel in 50 years, both sides have suffered significant fatalities. It's believed over 900 people have been killed in Israel, while 700 have been killed in Gaza.
The Israeli military said yesterday it had retaken control of all communities around Gaza since Hamas launched the unprecedented strike early on Saturday (local time).
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
