A dispute has erupted within the Givati Brigade, currently operating in the Gaza Strip, after three soldiers refused to board a Namer armored personnel carrier because a female medic was inside, claiming they were acting on instructions from their rabbis.
Following the incident, all soldiers in the yeshiva students’ platoon of the Hesder battalion were sentenced to 21 days of confinement. The IDF also considered removing the three soldiers who refused to board the vehicle from combat positions.
Arutz Sheva - Israel National News learned that Rabbi Tzvi Kostiner, head of the Mitzpe Ramon Yeshiva, and Rabbi Shlomo Shoshan, head of the Beit She’an Yeshiva, whose students serve in the unit, instructed their students not to board a combat vehicle while a female medic was inside.
According to sources familiar with the incident, after the three soldiers said they would not board the Namer, the remaining members of the platoon were asked whether anyone was willing to board the vehicle with the female medic. The soldiers said that none of the platoon members agreed to do so.
Following the incident, the commanders decided to sentence all soldiers in the platoon to 21 days of confinement. At the same time, the possibility of removing the three soldiers who refused to board the vehicle from continued military service was examined.
The incident, which occurred while the battalion was engaged in combat in the Gaza Strip, has once again highlighted tensions surrounding the service of religiously observant soldiers in the IDF, particularly over shared service and the ability of yeshiva students to follow their rabbis’ instructions while serving in the military.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said it would respond to the report once a response is received.
The Hesder Yeshivot Association expressed its support for the soldiers, stating: “The association emphasizes that the soldiers acted in accordance with the law, and the IDF is expected to uphold and respect the order and allow an observant soldier to serve according to his faith. Accordingly, there is, of course, no place to punish soldiers who acted in accordance with the order.
“The association notes that recently there has been a significant weakening in commanders’ compliance with orders that allow observant soldiers to serve according to his faith. This tramples on the soldiers’ rights and way of life. This must change, and quickly."