Israeli media reports alarming increase in soldiers seeking discharge

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
1 Jul 2024 00:09
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Israeli media describes the sharp increase in officers seeking discharge as "a crisis of the state, not just the army alone," characterizing it as "worrying".

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Israeli army soldiers walk ahead of a drill in the southern al-Naqab desert, occupied Palestine. (AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli media reported a significant challenge for the military this year, with 900 officers of captain and major ranks requesting a discharge. This surge in discharge demands highlights a crisis in the Israeli army, which is struggling to manage the increasing number of serving officers seeking discharge.

It also signals a pressing issue for the military leadership, who are already grappling with significant losses on the northern and southern fronts.

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The Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported that "900 officers of captain and major ranks have requested discharge from the military this year," compared to "100 to 120 officers in previous years."

The report described the sharp increase in officers seeking discharge as "a crisis of the state, not just the military alone," characterizing it as "worrying".

This comes as the Israeli security and military establishment warned of the risks of not extending the age of exemption from military service in the occupation's military for reserve soldiers, according to Israeli media.

The Israeli security and military establishment has warned Israeli authorities of the dangers of not extending the age of exemption from military service, which, if not extended, will entitle 5,000 reserve soldiers to immediate legal discharge.

"The meaning of not extending the exemption age for another year means that approximately 5,000 reserve soldiers serving in units under Order 8 will be able to be discharged immediately if they choose to discontinue their service as volunteers in the military," Israeli media reported.

In a related context, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz has lately reported that several Israeli reserve soldiers are opting out of returning to combat in Gaza, despite the potential for disciplinary consequences, as the military faces significant casualties in the region.

The security and military establishment further warned that "if the age of exemption is not extended and a decision is not taken to extend regular service to 36 months, the Israeli military will face difficulty in completing current security and war missions."

Israeli media earlier reported that the military is currently working on establishing a new reserve division due to its urgent need for thousands of additional soldiers.

Earlier this month, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi informed the Israeli government about the army's need for 15 new battalions, according to Israeli Army Radio, due to the severe shortage of forces that the Israeli military is experiencing.

'Israel' on an all-time downturn

Confrontations on the southern and northern fronts put a heavy burden on several formations and units of the Israeli occupation forces, killing multiple top-ranking and mid-tier officers. The occupation's invasion of Gaza pushed the total number of deaths of Israeli troops to 670 and injured thousands of others.

The effects of the war have not only affected the Israeli military but have also been detrimental to major sectors of the Israeli economy. Mobilization and loss of manpower have had drawbacks on the available Israeli workforce, productive sectors of the economy, and the tourism sector.

Faced with one of the greatest shocks and embarrassments to its settler community on October 7, "Israel" has pushed all aside and focused on mobilizing militarily, hoping to regain what it had lost in terms of its reputation as a formidable occupying force in West Asia and the security that its settlers now lack.

If promises to launch wide-scale aggression on Lebanon were actualized, the stress on the Israeli military formations may bring them to a breaking point, as several remain in disarray, including special units and essential brigades that dealt heavy hits. The demanded increase in the number of recruits comes despite the fact that the Israeli military had mobilized hundreds of thousands of reservists to service, which speaks to the level of damage inflicted on the military.