B'nei Menashe Suffers First Fatality in the War Against Hamas
(September 20, 2024) Staff Sergeant Gary Gideon Hanghal, 24, a soldier from Nof Hagalil, serving in the Kfir Brigade's Nachshon Battalion of the IDF became the first fatality from the B'nei Menashe community in the nearly one year long war that began on the 7th October when Hamas breached the border on Israel's south killing 1,200 and kidnapped over 200, including women, children and the infirmed. Hanghal was killed instantly when a fuel laden truck driven by a rogue driver rammed his outpost at Asaf Junction near Beit El. 58-year old assailant Hayil Dhaifallah was shot by the IDF troops but survived and is being treated at a hospital in Jerusalem. Lhanghal and his family made Aliya in 2020, pass the conscription age but insisted on enlisting in the IDF to serve his country, his mother recalls tearfully. "He was a sweet child, obedient hardly caused any trouble or mischief", she continued. He was the youngest of four siblings consisting of a brother and two other sisters. They are from the township of Lamka, in the erstwhile state of Manipur. Lamka has the largest B'nei
Menashe population in India. It may be recalled that the state had seen widespread conflict when the state supported and carried out an ethnic cleansing pogrom against the KukiZo tribes to which the B'nei Menashe belong. It has almost been a year and half but violence, the state of war between the KukiZo and the majority Meiteis sees no sign of abatement.
Hanghal was given a full military burial at Mt Herzl, Jerusalem, last Thursday, 12th September. 2024. The funeral was attended by over a thousand people that included B'nei Menashe from all over Israel, fellow soldiers and some officials. In addition he was given a gun salute, an honor worthy of a hero of Israel. Degel Menashe's project director, Yitzhak Thangjom and his wife attended the funeral along with friends and well-wishers to place a wreath on behalf of the Indian Jewish community and the Indian Jewish Heritage Center (IJHC). Degel Menashe's chairman, Hillel Halkin and Rafi Bhonkar, president of the IJHC, visited the family during the traditional mourning period, shiv'a, to offer their condolences.
Hanghal is one of the 300-odd B'nei Menashe soldiers serving in the IDF, consisting of regular conscripted soldiers as well as reservists. Most of whom serve in combat units often with distinction. He was the fourth casualty the community had suffered. (Our newsletter had reported about the other three who were injured earlier. Interested readers may view articles published on October 19th & 26th, 2023, December 20th, 2023 and December 24, 2023.) It was sad loss that has permeated down to each and every one in the B'nei Menashe's close-knit community. The burial site at Mt. Herzl overlooks Sha'are Tzedek Hospital where the assailant is being treated after being shot. Ido Touthang, himself a father of four and a reserve soldier commented, "Here is a soldier who gave his life for our country is being buried at Mt. Herzl and across the road doctors are fighting to save the life of the man who murdered him. Isn't it ironic?"
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