Dr. Yoel Melamed, the father of one of the Nachshon battalion soldiers who was punished for waving an anti-expulsion banner Monday morning, said Monday evening that his son was at peace with himself about the act, in spite of the punishment that awaited him.

Dr. Melamaed told Arutz Sheva that "With the punishment given the soldier, the Israel Defense Forces are shooting themselves in the foot. The punishment won't deter someone from expressing his protest of the use of the IDF to expel Jews." He continued, "The army has to do a thorough self examination on the political part that's woven into it. It can't be that the army will be a tool in the hand of the left to carry out its political aims, including the use of its right-wing soldiers. The task of the IDF is to protect the people of Israel and nothing else."