Egypt’s Armed Forces have released a new episode of the documentary series “Hekayat Batal” (A Hero’s Story), paying tribute to Staff Sergeant Salah Gamal Hafez, a military engineer martyred while clearing explosives during counter-terrorism operations in North Sinai.
The episode was published by military spokesperson Brigadier General Staff Gharib Abdel Hafez as part of an ongoing effort to document the sacrifices made by Egyptian servicemen during years of counter-terrorism operations.
Known among fellow soldiers as El-Hakeem “The Wise Man”, Salah Gamal was regarded as one of the most skilled bomb disposal specialists within Egypt’s military engineering corps.
He graduated from the Non-Commissioned Officers Institute before joining frontline units deployed in Sinai.
There, he specialised in some of the war’s most dangerous assignments detecting mines and dismantling improvised explosive devices hidden along roads, near checkpoints and inside operational zones.
For many troops, he was the man who walked ahead of everyone else.
Commanders and colleagues interviewed in the documentary described him as a “shield of safety” for advancing forces.
Before any military convoy moved through North Sinai, Salah would lead the way carrying detection and jamming equipment, searching for hidden explosives before others could pass.
His work saved lives.
According to testimonies featured in the film, his precision and field experience enabled him to dismantle highly complex explosive devices, protecting both soldiers and civilians in areas heavily targeted by terrorist attacks.
But the documentary also focuses on the human side of the soldier behind the uniform.
Colleagues recall a calm and disciplined man who dedicated himself not only to missions, but also to teaching younger generations of military engineers.
He regularly shared field experience with new recruits and was known for mentoring younger soldiers during operations.
That legacy, they say, remains one of his greatest contributions.
The film revisits the events of 14 November 2020, the day Salah Gamal was killed during an operation near the “Saber 4” checkpoint in North Sinai.
According to fellow servicemen, he appeared aware that the mission might be his last. Before deployment, he reportedly bid farewell to comrades with unusually emotional words.
During the operation, the unit came under sniper fire from terrorists. Despite being wounded, Salah remained at his position, continuing to direct colleagues while under attack.
Witnesses say his final moments reflected the same qualities that had defined his career : composure, faith and devotion to duty.
He was martyred while executing a sacred national mission for the Egyptian military—clearing Sinai of terrorists and securing the lives of those around him.
The documentary closes with a broader message about sacrifice and remembrance.
For Egypt’s Armed Forces, Salah Gamal’s story represents more than personal bravery. It reflects the role played by military engineers in a war where hidden explosives and roadside bombs became among the deadliest threats facing troops in Sinai.
To those who knew him, however, he will be remembered more simply as El-Hakeem -“The Wise Man” — the soldier who walked towards danger so others could return home alive.
