New Orleans attack leaves Israeli veterans of Gaza and Lebanon injured 

The two young Israelis injured in the New Orleans attack were veterans of military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, according to Yediot Aharonot. They were on vacation after completing extended reserve service when the incident occurred.

One of the injured, critically hurt, underwent two surgeries and remains in critical condition. His companion, suffering severe limb injuries, is stable and not in life-threatening condition.

Israeli Consul Elad Shoham, based in the Southwestern U.S., told the New York Post: “It’s a tragic irony. They escaped terrorism in one country only to face it in another. They sought relaxation but encountered violence of the harshest kind. This attack reflects the same ideology, the same enemy we face in Israel.”

Shoham shared details of his visit with the critically injured man before surgery. “He was in immense pain but managed to shake my hand. This kind of violence signals an effort to import terror to America, as seen when 'Intifada' is chanted in the U.S. Israel and the U.S. are fighting a common threat – the same one as on October 7.”

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has facilitated the victims’ families’ travel to Louisiana. Once stable, the injured will be flown back to Israel for continued medical care.