Chief of Staff Benny Gantz
Chief of Staff Benny GantzFlash 90

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz celebrated Passover on Monday with some of the soldiers responsible for guarding the waters off the coast of Gaza.

“A lot of people who will celebrate the Passover seder at home are relying on you to do your mission,” Gantz told the soldiers.

During the seder Gantz gave a young soldier from Russia a plane ticket to Russia so that he could visit his parents. A Navy commander also told the soldiers they could have an evening of recreational activities as a unit.

Before the seder, Gantz went out on a ship to see the sea west of Gaza. Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Hamas in an attempt to prevent weapons smuggling by sea.

While Gantz celebrated in Ashdod, 420 IDF soldiers whose parents are not in the country celebrated Passover in Givat Olga.