Not Apartheid, Not Genocide: A Druze Israeli Soldier's Witness to Life in Israel
The sun had set in the Middle East, and Nohad Mansour, a Druze soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces, started nightwatch on his first assignment in the Gaza Strip. At his right stood two soldiers dutifully guarding the building where their comrades rested.
The calm of the night shattered like glass with a string of bullets cutting through the air. Brushing just past Nohad, one bullet hit his companion’s leg. Another grazed the neck of the soldier farthest to his right. Nohad was forced to shoot the hidden terrorists while dragging his injured companion across the treacherous distance to the building behind them.
I recently met Nohad here in Canada. Neither of us are Jewish. I am a Christian Canadian and an Israel advocate, and Nohad is a Druze Israeli who fought for his country. Both of us have witnessed the escalation of ideological anti-Israel hatred, and silence is not an option.
After the Hamas massacre on October 7th, 2023, I witnessed a disturbing reality on university campuses across North America, including my own, Western University. Traveling to Israel several times, I have personally experienced the reality of Israel's diversity. As a Bible believing Christian, my faith in God and the truth of His word has deeply compelled me to stand against the worldwide antisemitism and false propaganda against Israel and to take a stand for truth.
On the other hand, Nohad is deeply connected to the land that his family has called home for over four hundred years. Born and raised in the village of Isfiya, Israel, Nohad is a dedicated part of the Druze community and an Israeli citizen. Arab in ethnicity, the Druze are monotheistic and believe that they are descended from Jethro, the father in-law of Moses.
Do Arabs Hate Israel?
Defying the myth that loyal citizens in Israel are only Jewish in ethnicity and that minorities are persecuted, the Druze community is a powerful testimony of cultural diversity in Israel, the deep love for the country shared across its many different sectors. While Israeli Jewish enlistment rate in the IDF is 70%, the Druze community — the only non-Jewish community required to enlist — inducts 80% of their young people, the highest percentage enlistment group in Israel.
Nohad enlisted in the army after high school, serving as a paratrooper until August 2023, when he was discharged because of hearing loss due to injuries in the field. He returned home planning to travel, like many other Israeli soldiers after military service.
On the morning of October 7th, as the massacres by Hamas terrorists were unfolding in southern Israel, Nohad attempted to contact his friend who lived on Kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border, to no avail. Nohad later learned that this friend, Netta Epstein, an Israeli Canadian citizen, had physically shielded a Hamas grenade during the massacre to protect his girlfriend from its detonation. Netta was tragically killed in the explosion while his girlfriend lived — one of only two survivors on their street.
Nohad immediately volunteered to enlist again, but was denied due to his hearing loss. For Nohad, it was inconceivable to neglect his obligation to fight against terrorism for his country, and to save innocent civilians, whatever their background. He persisted. Nohad was admitted and sent into the midst of the warzone the next day.
Nohad’s life was forever changed when he arrived on the scene in southern Israel on October 8th. In our conversation, Nohad recalled the experience: “Two hundred meters to your left and two hundred meters to your right, you hear that there are terrorists. Tanks, bodies, cars burning… cars with blood inside. It was terrible.” Nohad was haunted by the possibility that in the carnage and the chaos surrounding him, he would stumble across the body of his friend, Netta.
After serving in Gaza, Nohad was permanently discharged due to another injury that caused further hearing loss. Nohad now shares his powerful story as part of his recovery while finding other ways to support Israel:
“Telling my story as a non-Jewish Israeli gives another perspective on Israel… I grew up with the Jewish people, fought alongside my Jewish comrades in the army, and volunteered to go back… the love I received from my society, from my people… I believe that the values that hold me are the ones I’ve gained from my surroundings."
The anti-Israel rhetoric and protests that have perpetrated Western society are a disturbing reality for Nohad and an indicator of ignorance. “Israel is not perfect, but in this war they are the good guys, and they are fighting against terrorism,” he emphasized.
Speechless Opposition
He shared an example with me. In Canada, Nohad was confronted by an anti-Israel protester calling him a Nazi and accusing him of supporting genocide and apartheid. Nohad calmly asked, “What do you know about Arab Israelis?” When the protestor responded, “You’re depressing and genociding them!” Nohad simply replied, “I am an Israeli Arab,” rendering the protester speechless. Nohad’s personal story challenges the narratives that paint Israel as anything other than a democratic country that values equal rights for all.
What do you know about Arab Israelis?” When the protestor responded, “You’re depressing and genociding them!” Nohad simply replied, “I am an Israeli Arab,” rendering the protester speechless.
Witnessing the new surfacing of anti-Israel hatred and disinformation, similar to that with which Nohad was confronted, has plunged me into an ideological and spiritual battlefield. By standing on the truth of God’s word and holding fast to what He has promised, I defend the nation of Israel and share my own experiences and stories like Nohad’s — testimonies that reflect the reality of Israel.
The recent escalation of conflict with Iran serves as a wake up call of the Iranian Regime’s unmistakable intent in the middle east - to destroy Israel. The Regime’s desire for innocent Israeli deaths is not only proven through their civilian missile targets, as seen in recent days, but can clearly be seen through their involvement in terrorism directly and through their proxies - even planning the barbaric attacks of October 7th.
That first night in Gaza, Nohad was left unscathed while his two companions were wounded. The bullet that missed him permanently paralyzed the leg of his fellow soldier, another Druze Israeli defending his country whose story similarly testifies to the truth about Israel. Nohad shares his story believing that it will ignite change:
“The Druze community stands as a powerful example of diverse comradery in Israel. I share my story in the hope that it will expose the lies often believed about Israel and offer a message of hope for the future.”
May Nohad’s courageous story make a lasting difference in this battle for truth.
About the Author
Tiauna Lodewyk
Tiauna is a field ministries representative based in Ontario, Canada. You can support her ministry online here.
