Nation Mourns Heroic Commander While Plotting to Erase His Enemies—Coincidence?

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In a dramatic twist of fate that could easily fit into a black comedy, the IDF’s 401st Brigade—no stranger to the grim absurdity of war—suddenly finds itself mourning its commander, Col. Ehsan Daxa, who tragically became quite the unwitting martyr during an explosive encounter in Gaza. At 41, he’s officially one of the top-ranking officers to go down in actual combat since the war started. Talk about a career-defining moment!

Not to be outdone in the theater of sorrow, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to X (formerly Twitter) to wax lyrical about Col. Daxa’s “heroism,” claiming he exemplified the bond between the Druze community and Israel, whatever that bond looks like in the middle of a conflict that’s been going on for longer than some sitcoms run. “Ehsan was a hero,” he proclaimed, as if that’s some sort of consolation to the families losing loved ones to the worst version of reality TV imaginable.

The Prime Minister even threw in a noble prayer for the “recovery of our wounded heroes”—which brings us to an absurd twist. While Daxa’s brigade had its commander blown up, there was some other poor fellow battling wounds that became the sideshow in this combat circus. Perhaps next time, Netanyahu should consider a public relations strategy that doesn’t involve “while we’re at it” mourning.

And then there’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who lamented Col. Daxa’s passing with a heartfelt lament: “I was deeply saddened.” Well, who wouldn’t be? It’s like losing a star player right before the big game. He described Daxa as a brave and creative commander—presumably not creative enough to avoid an explosive encounter, though, because, you know, tactical creativity has limitations against landmines.

Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari took to the platform to remind us all of the heavy toll war takes—which is like a bartender reminding you that whiskey is bad for your health while pouring you another shot. “We salute the fallen and their families,” he said, probably while thinking of the curious absurdity of ‘saluting’ someone who just got blown to bits.

And then there’s Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, who managed to fumble his way through condolences on social media. In a heartfelt post, he expressed that this brave warrior’s fall was a colossal loss to Israeli society, and I can’t help but wonder if he also felt a twinge of irony in the air—after all, such tributes seem to come increasingly easy when it’s not your loved one being dug out of rubble.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich chimed in with his heart “torn” by Daxa’s death. Torn! Not just ripped in half but actually shredded! Yet, he thoughtfully redirected his sorrow into a commitment to ensure that “the perpetrators of Nazi crimes in Gaza are destructed to the last one.” Because, clearly, the Nazi analogy is now a sad but popular fallback in the national conversation about conflict—who needs therapy when you can resort to historical comparisons?

If this ensemble cast of political figures trying to navigate the muddy waters of grief and glory doesn’t scream “absurdity,” I’m not sure what does! A real-life tragicomedy unfolding where lives are lost, condolences flow, and the madness of it all continues—a grim reflection on what it means to exist in a world that seems to thrive on systemic contradictions. Welcome to the existential circus, Israel! What a show.