Little over two weeks ago, the young women had been scattered across the world, enjoying a beach lifestyle.
Having completed their military service the friends had embarked upon a rite of passage for many young Israelis: the post-army backpacking trip.
Anat, not her real name, had been in Bali, Indonesia. Her friend, Nurit, again not her real name, had been in Perth, Australia.
Their carefree days ended on Oct 7 as they had watched reports of massacres in their homeland after Hamas gunmen stormed the border and killed 1,400 people.
Barely 17 days later, the pair are now back in the army and reunited with many of their former comrades, having given up beach clothes to don olive-green battle dress.
They are among 350,000 reservists called up by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for a looming invasion of the Gaza Strip.
‘Now we are back in uniform’
“Two weeks ago, we were travelling, now we are back in uniform,” said Nurit. “It’s crazy.”
As reports of the Oct 7 attacks came in, flights to Israel quickly filled with returning reservists, many coming back from holidays abroad, the women said.
“My flight was full. Everyone is pulling together,” said Nurit. “They didn’t even let us pay in the shop just now because we were wearing uniforms; I couldn’t believe it,” she said, pointing to the shop where she had just bought snacks.
Israel’s small population of only around nine million meant nearly everyone knew someone killed or missing in the attacks, said Anat, whose mother is British and moved to Israel 30 years ago from Bolton, after volunteering in a kibbutz.
