Israeli court jails soldiers refusing Gaza deployment

A military court in Israel sentenced three soldiers to prison on Tuesday for refusing to return to combat duties in Gaza.

The three soldiers, all from the Armoured Corps, included one from a town near the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli broadcaster Kan. The court did not specify the length of their sentences, but military courts typically impose several weeks for such refusals.

An army spokesman told Kan that two soldiers from the Nahal Brigade had already served 20-day prison sentences for refusing to report for duty, though the timing was not specified.

Earlier this year, the Israeli military warned of a sharp drop in reservists reporting for duty, sparking concern about morale and commitment.

Brigade and battalion commanders have reported an increasing number of reservists refusing to serve following the resumption of hostilities in mid-March after a two-month lull. This includes individuals holding key combat and intelligence roles.

The army has noted a significant drop in reservist motivation, with many soldiers and commanders exhausted after serving hundreds of days over the past year.

Israeli law mandates military service for all Jewish citizens over 18, while Druze and Circassian males are also conscripted. Other Israeli Palestinians are exempt.

In May, media reported that 11 soldiers faced imprisonment for refusing deployment to Gaza, citing “extreme exhaustion.” Last August, around 20 infantry brigade soldiers requested exemptions from combat duty due to psychological and physical trauma.

Public frustration is also growing over the government’s failure to secure the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza, with many blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for prioritising his own interests.

Israel estimates 58 captives remain in Gaza, including 24 confirmed alive.

Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have so far failed, as Israel intensifies its military campaign.

The war has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, with thousands more believed trapped under rubble.

Much of Gaza remains devastated, and limited aid deliveries have failed to meet urgent needs. Recent days have seen dozens killed while trying to access humanitarian aid.