Scuffles erupt in Israeli cabinet over conscription: Israeli media
4 Min Read
Israeli media report that numerous fights have broken out in the Israeli cabinet over the issue of conscription due to sharp disagreements between ministers.
-
Israeli soldiers gather at the gate to the Sde Teiman detention camp in occupied Palestine, July 29, 2024 (AP)
Intense disagreements broke out within a session of the Israeli security cabinet over the refusal of dozens of Israeli soldiers to serve in the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) unless efforts were made to secure the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza, newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday.
According to Ynet, the discord erupted after Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev stated during the session, "There is no place in the army for those who refuse to serve." She added that Security Minister Yoav Gallant, as a representative of the IOF, must enforce the decisions of the political leadership, emphasizing that "anyone who refuses orders should be detained."
Gallant reportedly left the cabinet session out of frustration over the Transportation Minister's statements.
The disagreements occurred against the backdrop of speculation that the cabinet might discuss an Israeli strike on Iran. However, the newspaper did not indicate that this matter was formally addressed during the session.
Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 13 reported that cabinet members did not vote on the potential strike against Iran during their meeting the previous night. The channel further revealed that the Israeli occupation is considering postponing a decision on a response to Iran, delaying the approval until closer to the possible execution of an attack.
Soldiers threatening to end service over prisoner swap
A group of Israeli soldiers issued a warning, stating they would end their military service if the government did not work toward a prisoner exchange deal to secure the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Gallant, 130 soldiers wrote: "For some of us, the red line has already been crossed. For others, the day we will stop serving is approaching quickly."
The soldiers stressed that the ongoing war in Gaza not only delays the return of captives but also endangers their lives, noting that many captives had been killed by Israeli strikes.
The letter was signed by reservists and conscripts from various military units, including the Armored Corps, Artillery Corps, Home Front Command, and the Air and Naval forces.
The Israeli military has been facing significant recruitment challenges in recent months, largely due to its ongoing aggression on Gaza since October 7, 2023. The military is also strained on multiple fronts, including the northern border with Lebanon. Additionally, there has been resistance from the ultra-Orthodox community, the Haredim, who refuse to enlist in military service.
'Israel' threatens prosecution of soldiers refusing to return to Gaza
On that note, it is worth mentioning that in August, the IOF reportedly threatened their soldiers with prosecution if they did not return to Gaza to continue the ongoing genocide in the Strip amid increasing refusal cases in recent months.
Approximately 20 IOF soldiers from an infantry brigade have refused to return to Gaza, "Israel's" KAN public broadcaster reported, with around 10 of the soldiers receiving official warnings stating they would face prosecution for disobeying military orders.
Families of the IOF soldiers claim that their military relatives “are forced to conduct ground maneuvers in Gaza or face prison," adding “There are only a few soldiers left in their company who are capable of fighting... This is our time as parents to help them confront a system that does not care about them."
That said, Gallant stated in July that Tel Aviv needs 10,000 new soldiers amid manpower shortages.
