(Courtesy of Yashar LaChayal) At the beginning of May, violent clashes in East Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount caused confrontations between violent protesters and Israeli police and Border Patrol forces. These confrontations led to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, coming under rocket fire for the first time since 2014.

On May 10, Yom Yerushalayim, a day when tens of thousands of Israelis march through the streets of Jerusalem celebrating the reunification of Jerusalem, Hamas and Islamic Jihad began firing rockets towards Jerusalem and the southern cities of Israel from the Gaza Strip. In response, the IDF launched a military operation, “Operation Guardian of the Walls,” to protect Israeli citizens from the threat of Hamas.

Thousands of IDF troops, both active and reserve, were called to the front lines to help protect the State of Israel. While a ceasefire has been reached, these soldiers are still armed and prepared, working hard day and night on the Gaza border to ensure the safety of Israel’s civilians.

Yashar LaChayal, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid for soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, learned that many of the soldiers were sent to the Gaza area with no warning and weren’t able to go home to prepare—meaning they couldn’t do laundry, pack fresh supplies, or eat a home-cooked meal before taking part in the operation.

Yashar LaChayal immediately began sending shipments of thousands of basic hygiene products: clean socks, underwear, undershirts, towels, wipes, shampoo, toothpaste and more for these brave soldiers. Hundreds of hats were also purchased and distributed to many of the units, to protect the soldiers from the hot sun while on duty. Hair cutting machines were given to some units, so that soldiers could maintain their regulation haircuts.

Every day throughout the operation, a Yashar LaChayal representative went down south to distribute these products to the soldiers.

In addition to hygiene products and clean clothing, the soldiers lack electricity in their makeshift bases and can’t charge their phones to keep in touch with their loved ones. Yashar LaChayal purchased hundreds of portable phone chargers so that the soldiers can stay in touch with their families.

At night, there is limited lighting on the border to conceal the location of the soldiers. Yashar LaChayal distributed headlamps so that the soldiers could continue their assignments at night.

In addition to the equipment mentioned, soldiers were also treated to cold drinks, snacks, ice cream, and other treats, reminding them of the support they have from all over the world and giving them strength to continue protecting Israel’s civilians. Yashar LaChayal also donated over 1,000 snack packs to Israel Border Patrol soldiers who have been dealing with riots throughout the country.

Thanks to the supporters of Yashar LaChayal from across the world, representatives have been able to go down to the border on a daily basis and show the proper support that the IDF soldiers need during this difficult operation. We hope and pray that the hard work of the IDF during “Operation Guardian of the Walls” will help bring a long-lasting sense of security to Israeli civilians and Jews around the world.

For more information about Yashar LaChayal and its other projects that support Israel’s soldiers, visit: www.yasharlachayal.org and facebook.com/yasharlachayal.