Israeli media: Logistics shortage hinders IOF West Bank offensives

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Israeli "State Comptroller" Matanyahu Englman, who paid a surprise visit to the “Kfir” Brigade’s training bases in the Jordan Valley and to the “Yakir” base in the occupied northern West Bank, said his visit comes as part of an audit of the living conditions of draft and reserve soldiers, during which logistical support issues that require "immediate handling" by the military, such as the living conditions, medical treatment, and food, were exposed. 

According to Englman, the logistical coverage of regular soldiers and reserves in the West Bank must be improved, adding, "There is no reason why reservists cannot get food as required in the first week of their work in light of the delays of the operating forces."

At the "Kfir" base, Engleman exposed several deficiencies that need to be attended to by the IOF.

“It is not possible to accept a reality in which in a heat of over 40 degrees in the Jordan Valley, troops will not have basic drinking water that is not boiling, and will have to make do with ineffective air conditioners, some of which are not repaired due to a lack of budget,” he said.

At the medical level, Englman added in his report the issue of IOF troops having to wait for “many months” before they could see a doctor. 

Englman also found that troops get a ration of one meat portion per day, which is, according to him, an “insufficient quantity”.

In a similar context, Major General (Reserve) in the IOF army and former commissioner of soldiers’ complaints, Yitzhak Brik, told the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth earlier, “We are amid an existential threat. One of the most important challenges Israel is facing is the unpreparedness of the internal front which tends to be the focal point of the coming war and yet, it continues to suffer as a result of the Israeli army and government’s negligence, knowing that in any future war, it will be targeted with an average of 3,000 missiles per day and more than 100 sites inside Israel will be destroyed."

There is consensus among Israeli officials that the West Bank poses a great danger and challenge to the Israeli occupation.

Political affairs commentator for the Israeli broadcaster "Kan", Gilly Cohen, revealed that the Israeli occupation forces are "very concerned" about the growing frustration and volatile situation within Palestinian cities.

According to Cohen, the security leadership, from the army chiefs, through the head of Military Intelligence, to the head of the Shin Bet, have expressed extreme concern over the situation that is potentially explosive.