Tomer Elimelech, 41-42, is a Canadian who joined the Israeli army around 2007 as a soldier in the Golani brigade. In 2017, he told The Canadian Jewish News (CJN) that he imagines more-recent recruits join for the same reason he did: “They want to serve. They want to be part of something that is bigger than themselves.”

Elimelech took part in Operation Cast Lead in 2008, which saw Israel kill more than 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians, including hundreds of children. “We can’t rely on anyone, and we have to defend ourselves. Whether we like it or not, there is an enemy out there. Until we do have peace, we have to be ready for this,” Elimelech told CJN, referring to his beliefs about Israel and its military.

Elimelech said that the experience was not always easy: “You’re on your own, you’re away from your family, you’re with a bunch of Israelis, and no matter how Zionist and pro-Israel you are, it is a different culture… Some days were difficult. I’m not going to lie.”