IDF Yahalom sergeant major shares insight into Israel's war against Hamas

Israeli Zionist Chaim Malespin not only runs a charity to help Jewish immigrants, but also serves as a sergeant major in the IDF Combat Engineering Corp’s special Yahalom ('diamond' in Hebrew) elite commando unit.

The Yahalom unit conducts the highly-classified work of finding and mapping the Hamas underground tunnel network, in Gaza, often referred to as the “metro," as it ironically mimics the underground transportation systems of Western urban centers. These tunnels, which serve the Hamas terrorist organization as infrastructure for both anti-Israel attacks and logistics, also serve as a means for transporting munitions, weapons, fuel, drugs, hostages and whatever else is needed to be moved from one location to another.

Yahalom, where Malespin serves, was seen together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several times, including during the prime minister’s surprise visit to the war zone in Gaza.

Yahalom works together with the IDF’s highly trained and effective Oketz (“sting” in Hebrew) canine dog sniffing unit, which enters the tunnels before the soldiers to discover and warn of explosive devices, trip wires and weapons, and other deathtrap devices.

The trained dogs have been particularly instrumental in recent weeks, helping to discover hidden tunnel entrances in homes, etc. With Hamas terror tunnels under schools and hospitals throughout the Gaza Strip.

Malespin says: “Never underestimate the dogs. They save lives, go through the tunnels, and help with filming and mapping them as well. They deserve medals of honor.”

An underground Hamas command center under Rantisi Hospital contained not only suicide vests, rocket-propelled grenades, and a variety of weapons, but also indications that Israeli hostages had been held captive by Hamas, such as baby bottles.

Malespin says the Yahalom unit also includes special technology and classified methods for locating, discovering and methodically processing information to map and get a picture of where the tunnels are located, many of which are under schools, mosques, hospitals and residential buildings. According to Malespin, Hamas would find ways to counteract if their classified methods were revealed. He also noted that entrances to some tunnels have been discovered under children’s beds in their homes.

“This discovery and mapping is an ongoing complicated, convoluted, and unimaginably intricate operation that has been carried out throughout all of the previous IDF operations against Hamas including Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, Operation Protective Edge – 2014, Operation Guardian of the Wall – 2021, Operation Breaking Dawn 2022, and the present Operation Swords of Iron," Malespin said, characterizing the fight as an "ongoing ever-increasing battle of wits and technological systems – they change certain aspects and tactics, we change strategy – a constant back and forth battle of wits and technological tools being implemented.”

He noted that Netanyahu has listed several goals in his meeting with soldiers, including destroying the Hamas terror group, bringing home all of the hostages and especially wiping out the Hamas tunnels and infrastructure completely, making sure Gaza is no longer a threat.

“If we stop now it would be unwise because the cycle would continue. We must completely dismantle Hamas’ infrastructure, and tunnels, and other command and control facilities,” Malespin added.

He explained there are a variety of tunnels with different functions, some of which are wide enough to drive a car through and others narrow enough for a motorcycle. All had been prepared for years as part of a planned multifaceted, massive massacre of Israeli civilians, according to Malespin.

Looking to the future and the necessary changes needed in Gaza's educational system, Malespin noted the importance of supporting local Christian churches in the Strip that need to expand through home groups.

Malespin envisages a post-Hamas society that is business-oriented with international investor portfolios set up by MBZ (UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan). He believes the Gaza Strip has the potential to be a prime tourist attraction, noting that the sandy beaches are among the most beautiful in the area because they are nearest to the coastline of the Sahara Desert, with more sandy beaches and coral.

The Gaza Strip has the potential to establish guesthouses and hotel resorts that cater to activities like surfing and swimming, he said, adding that because it was part of the Ancient via Maris, “Way of the Sea,” he believes it will be part of the Isaiah 19 Highway of Peace.

Citing Genesis 12:3, which reads: "I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse those who curse you. And through you, I will bless all the nations," Malespin says that any country, or even any empire (for example, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman) which turns against the Judeo-Christian values of the Torah, puts itself on the path of self-destruction. He notes that when Lebanon was run by Christians, Beirut outranked even Tel Aviv as a top tourist attraction. Malespin says he believes some sort of celestial timer is set, or a cup of wrath fills up, for the outpouring of destruction of a country that turns away from God’s precepts. 

Malespin believes the present war (and the ripple effect of increased worldwide antisemitism) has been affecting aliyah (immigration) to Israel. The numbers are increasing, he said.

“Doron Almog, the head of the Jewish Agency which handles Jewish immigration to Israel, says he expects a million new immigrants in the next five years, and that worldwide antisemitism is up 400% in the U.S. alone, which now includes leading opinion makers, like Hollywood celebrities who are uneducated and attending pro-Hamas rallies.” 

Malespin referred to “hunters and fishers” that are mentioned in Jeremiah 16:14-16: “Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.”

The Aliyah Return Center (ARC) is preparing for this, he said.

Malespin is the executive director and chairman of the Board of Directors for the ARC, which provides a wide range of assistance to new immigrants in the form of events, vouchers for food, clothing, Hebrew language learning, job training, logistics help, and most importantly, temporary housing.

The services offered by the ARC allow new immigrants to more easily adjust to a different – and sometimes difficult – culture and society. 

“Bait” in Hebrew means 'house' but as fishermen, it represents the bait at the end of the fisherman’s hook, says Malespin.

"Antisemitic violence, such as that of the Nazis and today’s antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments seen during pro-Palestinian marches, are part of the representation of the hunters – "push factors" – ultimately bringing the Jewish people home to the promised land.

The ARC, which is located in a communal settlement between the Jordan Valley Regional Council and Tiberias in the Galilee) has also been helping refugees who had to evacuate their homes sometime after the war began, mostly refugees from Israel's northern border communities, due to the threat from Iran's terror proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has been firing missiles into Israel.

Evacuees are getting assistance with accommodations and clothing etc. with the help of the ARC staff.

In addition, the ARC has arranged for IDF soldiers to receive many necessities during the war, including food parcels, bulletproof, ceramic vests, helmets, and plier tools, for example. 

Malespin notes that it is no little thing to provide housing in Israel, even temporary, since Israel is very expensive, with Tel Aviv ranked as the most expensive city in the world to live in. 

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Referring to the last three verses of Ezekiel 39, in which God promises to return His people, Malespin said that Galileans, such as himself, are traditionally fishermen. In verses 27-28:

“When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands…'” Malespin notes it says: “I will not leave any of them…”

“I am a Galilean,” he stated, and said he believes there is a mystery in John 21.

"There are 153 'fisher' remnant nations that will help promote aliyah to Israel," says Malespin, referring to them as “righteous sheep nations” that are helping with the ingathering of the exiles.

“Fifty-nine have so far brought their flags to be displayed, and support through volunteering and resources, at the ARC," he added.

“The Amalekites attacked aliyah unprovoked," he said, referring to Exodus 17:8, and Edomites wouldn't give them food or water for their aliyah (Numbers 20), but the righteous nations will help, will give them food and water on their aliyah journey. 

Malespin cautioned: "If there are teachers who say that God is returning the Jewish people to their land only for them to perish, citing ‘Jacob’s trouble,’ that is heresy. Reread it."

"God says we will be blessed and saved out of it, it’s the nations who are being judged there," Malespin continued. "The prophetic work of the ARC is 'proactive' or prophetically active.'"

Many Christians are “aliyah illiterate” concerning the prophecies relating to the return of the Jews to the land, Malespin said and encouraged readers to visit the ARC website to learn more and to request a list of 64 biblical scriptures related to aliyah.

“Neither The Gaza war, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or Hezbollah, or anyone will stop God’s plan to bless Israel, and to make Jerusalem a praise in all the earth," Malespin emphasized.

"Don’t find yourself standing on the wrong side of Genesis 12:3," he urged. “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

“The shroud of spiritual battle is no longer hidden, spiritual forces are at work openly," he said.

In his response, Malespin referenced the fasts of Daniel and Esther in the Bible, noting that, in both cases, they were dealing with the “prince of Persia,” which he said is a reference to Iran, and that Hamas is an Iranian proxy.

“It is no longer a secret what is going on,” Malespin said. "Comforting intercessors will arise with healing: “Comfort you, comfort you my people," he said, referencing Isaiah 40:1.

The Israeli people have “gazed into the void” and “souls are in need of comfort,” Malespin added.

For an up-to-date report on Sgt-Major Malespin’s work, follow the Aliyah Return Center on Facebook. 

Click here to support the Aliyah Return Center's Emergency Aid Initiative.