A New York tech founder volunteered to serve with the elite unit of the Israeli Defense Forces after seeing the horror unfold in the Middle East.
The Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for “significant military action” to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip.
Noy Leyb, 32, watched Hamas invade Israel from New York’s Upper East Side and decided to volunteer and encouraged others to join as well.
“I’m not one to document myself, but we Israelis, our Jews, our people are living in a horror movie,” he said in a video posted on Instagram.
“The kidnappings, the hostages, the Hamas terrorists who enter Israel and set fire to houses where people think they are safe are unimaginable.
‘Being outside Israel and being in New York is very difficult for me and many Israelis.’
Noy Leyb, 32, watched Hamas invade Israel from New York’s Upper East Side and decided to volunteer and serve in the elite unit of the Israel Defense Force
The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip launched an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at dawn on Saturday, firing thousands of rockets.
Leyb watched devastated from afar as at least 600 people were reportedly killed in Israel and more than 300 in Gaza – as Israeli airstrikes pounded the area.
“Last night I opened a group for Israelis who want to go back and fight, it was amazing to see everyone coming together,” he said.
“I am working with 180 other people in this group to come to Israel and hopefully some of us will be there tomorrow.
“I think the hardest part for me was telling my parents I was coming back.”
Following the video, the 32-year-old with the New York Post said it was ‘not an operation’ and that he ‘fully expects to go to war’.
“No one expects me to come – my commanders even said there is no expectation since I am not in the country,” Leyb told The Post.
‘For me there is no doubt. My heart is in Israel. There is no chance that anything will stop me from coming back.’
Leyb watched from afar as at least 600 people were reportedly killed in Israel and more than 300 in Gaza – as Israeli airstrikes pounded the area
Speaking to the New York Post following the video, the 32-year-old said it was ‘not surgery’ and that he ‘fully expects to go to war’.
Leyb told the outlet he didn’t give the decision a second thought and began canceling meetings and gatherings, saying he hadn’t thought about a return date.
‘Maybe a day, a week or months from now. I’m leaving here on a one-way ticket, not sure when I’ll be back,’ he said.
Leyb spent the early part of Saturday morning booking a flight, securing a midnight plane.
“I yelled at the ticket agent why she couldn’t get me an earlier flight,” he told the outlet.
“I don’t even know what I packed or what I’m going with, but I just need myself and that’s it.”
The reservist first enlisted in the IDF in 2009 at the age of 18 and has already served the minimum 32 months.
“We value the lives of women and children and innocent civilians,” he said, noting that Israeli soldiers were bringing terrorists to the hospital for treatment.
The spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East
He then went on to draw a contrast with Hamas, which ‘places rockets under schools and uses women and children as human shields’.
“the cruelty, the inhumanity — it’s like we’re in a dream,” Leyb told the Post of the images he saw flooded online and broadcast worldwide.
‘This is what you see in the craziest action movies. But it’s happening now.’
Leyb posted a video of himself with his passport and ticket with a noticeable smile on his face knowing he would soon be in Israel to show his support.
DailyMail.com contacted Leyb for comment, but he did not immediately respond.