A former security guard who protected Taylor Swift during the summer leg of her Eras Tour has returned to Israel to fight against militant group Hamas.
The security guard, who wishes to keep his name anonymous,went viral three months ago for his protection of Swift after one of her concerts.
And now Variety confirmed that the guard had left America for Israel in order to join the IDF, Israel Defense Forces, reserves after Israeli journalist Eran Swisa initially broke the news on social media over the weekend.
The journalist told the outlet that the protection officer was born at a Kibbutz in Israel but had been working in the States. It is not clear how closely he worked with Swift or if he was employed by her or the stadium.
The Standard has contacted a rep for Taylor Swift.
The security officer told Swisa, in a statement that he shared with the publication: “I got a pretty great life back in the U.S.
“I got an amazing dream job that I love, great friends that I call family and a very comfortable home. I didn’t HAVE to come here… But I could not stand on the sidelines while families are being slaughtered andburned alive in their homes!!!
“Just for being Jewish or for being Israelis.”
The protection officer also condemned Hamas in his statement, and urged the international community to stand with Israel and not stay silent.
Meanwhile, Swift, who has been promoting the release of her Eras Tour film, has refrained from publicly commenting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel has besieged and bombed Gaza since the Hamas militant attack on Israel on October 7, which left 1,400 people, mostly civilians, dead with about 200 hostages being held captive in Gaza.
While over 3,700 people in Gaza have been killed in retaliatory strikes and 12,500 others have been injured, according to the territory's health ministry.
On Thursday, Rishi Sunak vowed that Britain would stand by Israel in its “darkest hour” as Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a long war to destroy terror group Hamas.
