Taylor Swift's security guard returns home to Israel join IDF

A security guard who worked with Taylor Swift on her international smash hit Eras Tour, has told Israel Today journalist Eran Swissa that he has returned home to join the Israeli Defence Forces in the attack on Gaza as part of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

The security guard who wished to remain anonymous told journalist Eran Swissa he wished to be on the 'right side of humanity'.

In a social media post published by Swissa on his Tiktok, a video can be seen of the security guard with Swift and an image of the same man in an IDF uniform smiling. There are text slides over these images are written in Hebrew, the national language of Israel. Over Swissa's Tiktok, Swift's hit song 'Love Story' can be heard playing in the background with its feel good pop guitar riff.

According to Billboard the Hebrew text of to what the security guard told Swissa translates to: 'I  have got a pretty great life back in the U.S.', describing working with Swift as a 'dream job'.

The security guard told the entertainment journalist that he was compelled to move back to Israel in light of recent events. 'I didn’t have to come here… But I could not stand on the sidelines while families are being slaughtered and burned alive in their homes! Just for being Jewish or for being Israelis'.

The security guard continued: 'I’m not only standing here with Israel and actually standing here with humanity. Don’t be on the wrong side of history! Don’t stand on the sidelines and say nothing… Stand with Israel, stand with humanity!'

Recent events in Gaza have seen an escalation in violence after Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Supernova Music Festival, killing a reported 260 attendees. Among these attendees was Irish citizen, Kim Damti.

The organisers of the festival have since released their first statement regarding the attack which they described as an 'unspeakable tragedy'.

In the wake of Hamas’ assault, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a 'complete siege' of the Gaza Strip where 2.2million people live. The Gaza Strip covers approximately 365km squared, making it roughly half the size of county Louth. Netanyahu has ordered the residents to 'leave now' after threatening to turn Gaza into a 'deserted island'.

This announcement was condemned by the UN, with spokes person Ravina Shamdasani speaking on behalf of the organisation:  'We are concerned that this order, combined with the imposition of a complete siege of Gaza, may not be considered as lawful temporary evacuation and would therefore amount to a forcible transfer of civilians in breach of international law'.

Equally in Ireland the actions of the Israeli government have been a cause of concern with Tánaiste Mícháel Martin saying: 'It has always been my view that bombing urban conurbations will result in unjustified loss of human life'.

Taylor Swift has not made any comment regarding the Israel-Palestine war or her security guard's return to Israel. Last weekend she made headlines for her concert film of the Eras Tour, which had the highest grossing box office weekend of any concert film.