<
https://theconversation.com/israels-refuseniks-a-growing-number-of-soldiers-are-refusing-to-serve-in-netanyahus-war-on-gaza-264707>
"The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has ordered the Israel Defense
Forces to step up the offensive on Gaza City, despite internal and
international condemnation.
Amid accusations by the International Association of Genocide Scholars that
Israel is committing genocide, some 40,000 reservist soldiers were called-up to
report for duty on Tuesday, August 2. An additional 90,000 are due for
mobilisation by the end of the first quarter of 2026. But reports suggest that
the numbers willing to accept their orders are dwindling.
Israel has mandatory national conscription for those leaving high school for a
period of 18 to 36 months, with some exemptions. This is followed by compulsory
reserve duty for some units, normally until the age of 40. In the wake of the
October 7 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas, 360,000 reservists were reportedly
called up for duty, alongside the 100,000 high-school leavers on active duty.
This was one of the largest mobilisations in Israel’s history. There was an
unprecedented 120% response rate, as Israelis rallied around the flag and other
people not subject to the call-up opted to serve.
After almost two years of fighting, reports suggest that commanders are now
struggling to find enough reservists willing to serve. Some calculations show a
30% downturn in reserve deployment.
Kan, Israel’s national broadcaster, puts
the decline closer to 50%.
Reasons vary among those who choose not to fulfil their reserve duty. A report
from left-wing Israeli media outlet,
+972mag, calculates that only about
1,500, roughly 1.5%, of soldiers who refused between October 2023 and April
2025 did so out of ideological and ethical concerns.
The majority have refused because they have grown weary of a war that has
failed to achieve a resolution nor succeeded in returning the Israeli hostages
taken by Hamas. Many are suffering from exhaustion, both physical and
emotional."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
