An emotional full-circle moment unfolded yesterday (Tuesday) at Mossad headquarters when incoming director Roman Gofman met for the first time with Moshe Weitzman and Elishiv Mizrahi—the two United Hatzalah paramedics who treated him under fire and helped save his life on October 7, after he was critically wounded.
On the morning of Simchat Torah, as sirens wailed across southern Israel, Weitzman and Mizrahi rushed south to save lives. At approximately 8:30 a.m., near the Beror Hayil Junction, a civilian vehicle flagged down paramedic Moshe Weitzman. Inside was Major General Roman Gofman, then commander of the Tze’elim base, suffering from severe gunshot wounds sustained while fighting terrorists.
Weitzman immediately loaded Gofman into the ambulance and began an urgent evacuation, maintaining constant communication with him to keep him conscious throughout the journey. Paramedic Elishiv Mizrahi joined the evacuation after meeting the ambulance en route, having just completed the evacuation of wounded civilians to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon in his private vehicle.
Together, the two paramedics fought to save Gofman’s life until he safely reached the hospital.
In a moving gesture of gratitude, the Prime Minister’s Office and Gofman invited Weitzman and Mizrahi to attend the official ceremony at Mossad headquarters marking Gofman’s entry into the role. There, the circle that began on the burning roads of southern Israel on October 7 was finally closed in a meeting that deeply moved those in attendance.
Moshe Weitzman reflected on the experience after the ceremony: “In those moments inside the ambulance, I had no idea I was treating someone who would one day lead one of Israel’s most sensitive and important organizations. We saw a wounded fighter, a heroic commander, and we had one mission before our eyes—to keep him conscious and save his life.”
He added: “Who would have believed that one day he would become Mossad chief? To stand here today at Mossad headquarters and watch him take command of the organization is a full-circle moment that is difficult to put into words.”
Elishiv Mizrahi also recalled that dramatic morning: “After evacuating wounded civilians to Barzilai Hospital in my private vehicle, I heard Moshe’s call over the radio and didn’t hesitate for a moment. I joined him on the road and together we fought for General Gofman’s life, doing everything possible to keep him with us throughout the journey.”
Mizrahi concluded: “To stand today at Mossad headquarters and see that same wounded fighter from the ambulance receive the keys to one of Israel’s most important security organizations is an extraordinarily moving full-circle moment, and a living reminder of the power of mutual responsibility and saving lives in Israel.”