Beyond the Uniform

In this episode, Fabio discusses how media coverage of the war is shaped by dominant narratives rather than by events on the ground. Originally from Brazil, he studied in Israel, served in the IDF’s international relations unit, and later worked as an executive producer at i24NEWS when the war began. Drawing on this experience, he explains how editorial frameworks, audience expectations, and ideological lenses influence what is reported, and what is omitted, resulting in coverage that often fails to accurately reflect Israel’s reality during the war.

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In this episode, international lawyer and tunnel warfare expert Daphne Barak addresses common misconceptions surrounding the legality of the Israel–Hamas war. She explains the legal framework governing armed conflict, outlines how Hamas conducts tunnel warfare, and clarifies the operational and legal constraints under which Israel operates. The discussion provides an extremely interesting and informed analysis of how international humanitarian law applies to the conflict and what it truly allows in practice.

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In this powerful episode, we sit down with Levi, who was born and raised in the Netherlands, unaware of his Jewish roots until the age of 17. What began as a personal discovery quickly became a life-changing journey: he embraced his Jewish identity, made aliyah to Israel, and joined a combat unit in the IDF. Today, Levi continues to serve as a reservist on the frontlines in Gaza, while also actively advocating for the rights of lone soldiers and Israeli reservists in the Knesset.

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Refael is a former career military officer who served as a lieutenant colonel in the IDF before leaving the reserves in 2017 to pursue a new path in coaching and business. But following the October 7th terror attack, he was once again called to serve—this time for over a year in reserves. A dedicated father and business owner, Refael was forced to abruptly put his life on hold, juggling the intense demands of military duty, family responsibilities, and the challenge of rebuilding his coaching business in the midst of a national crisis.

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Born and raised in Israel, Meirav Safdie served in the IDF before earning a degree in International Relations at the University of Geneva. After spending 20 years in Brazil, she returned to Israel in 2018, completed a master’s in government at Reichman University, and went on to manage the Derech Eretz political party. Since the war began, she has devoted herself to the Hostage Families Forum—supporting families, coordinating donations, and organizing international delegations.

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In this second episode of Beyond the Uniform, we sit down with Yonatan Shalev, an IDF reservist from a special unit who has become one of Israel’s most vocal and courageous activists.

After years of service on the front lines, Yonatan founded Katef el Katef, a grassroots movement of reservists advocating for equal military service across Israeli society. He recently made headlines for demanding for equal duty, passionately demanding justice on behalf of the soldiers still fighting in Gaza and honoring those who never made it home.

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In this first episode of Beyond the Uniform, we sit down with Cameron, an American who moved to Israel to serve as a lone soldier. He shares what led him to leave home, join a special unit in the IDF, and how everything changed on the morning of October 7th. Cameron was on guard duty at 6 a.m. when the attack began. He fought terrorists, lost friends, and lived through one of the darkest days in Israel’s history. This is his story—told not by the media, but by the person who lived it.

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