The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has shaken observers in the United States, but the bloody conflict is poised to affect some local families more than others.
According to the organization Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, there are currently some 21 “Lone Soldiers” from Texas serving in the Israeli military. Lone Soldiers are military personnel who do not have family in Israel. One of those soldiers is Dallas native Megan Daniels, 19.
“A lot of us think, had I been alive when the Holocaust happened, I would’ve done something,” said Eddy Daniels, Megan’s father, speaking with WFAA. “Well, she’s in Israel, and she can do something now about really the greatest threat to Judaism since the Nazis.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against southern Israel last Saturday, killing more than 1,300 Israelis and foreign nationals. Israel has since declared war against the terrorist organization, conducting airstrikes and amassing tanks and military personnel at its border with the Gaza Strip.
Megan’s parents told WFAA that their daughter was a proud Jewish person and that she first expressed her desire to move to Israel and serve in the armed forces when she was just in middle school.
“Everyone said it was a phase,” said Megan’s mother, Taryn Daniels, per WFAA. “My family said it, we said it.”
Before she joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Megan was reportedly a high school cheerleader and model. She moved to Israel after graduating and enlisted, finishing basic training just days before Hamas got roughly 1,500 fighters through the country’s border security and seemingly killed civilians, law enforcement, and military personnel indiscriminately.
“[Megan] just said, ‘I’ve seen so many pictures that are forever burned in my head, and I’ll never be able to get them out.’ … We are terrified, and she is scared because you never anticipate something of this scale happening,” her mother said.
According to Megan’s parents, three other Lone Soldiers their daughter bunked with were killed in the attack last weekend. Additionally, the boyfriend of a friend of hers was taken captive by Hamas.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Hamas took more than 100 people hostage and transported them to Gaza. Some are believed to be American citizens.
Megan now awaits her assignment as the IDF prepares for what could be a full-scale invasion of Gaza and the next phase of the war.
“The challenge and the mission is to have all of those more than 360,000 reservists both in the south and in the north, get them mission ready, equipped, prepared, task-forced, and ready for any assignments they will have in the future,” said IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, speaking about the military build-up at the border, according to CNN.
Megan’s parents said they were proud of their daughter and were praying for her safe return to the United States.
“My daughter did ask me to share with you specifically,” Taryn told WFAA. “[E]veryone in Israel has seen that image of the Dallas skyline has been going around, and they’re all so touched by the support they’re getting from America.”