Givati Brigade Commander Approves Mission Despite Soldiers' Refusal to Ride with Female Paramedic

New details have emerged regarding a controversy in the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade after soldiers refused to board an armored personnel carrier (Namer) carrying a female paramedic. According to sources familiar with the incident, the company commander spoke with the soldiers, emphasizing the operational importance and urgency of the mission, but they maintained their refusal. The brigade commander was also involved and approved the mission due to its urgency and significance, yet the soldiers still declined to board the vehicle.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the Rotem Battalion, operating in the Gaza Strip, was ordered to conduct a night operational patrol involving the Namer. The IDF noted that under the Joint Service Order, religious soldiers are entitled to perform operational duties in gender-segregated settings except in exceptional cases. In this instance, the soldiers refused the order, leading to the mission's cancellation. The event is under investigation, and disciplinary measures are expected based on the findings, as the IDF views the refusal as insubordination.

The incident began when three soldiers refused to board the Namer with the female paramedic. Subsequently, other soldiers in the platoon were asked if they would ride with her, but none agreed. Earlier reports revealed that Rabbis Zvi Kostiner and Shlomo Shoshan, heads of yeshivas attended by soldiers in the platoon, instructed their students not to board combat vehicles with a female paramedic present. The Hesder Yeshivot Association supported the soldiers, asserting their actions complied with the Joint Service Order and opposing disciplinary action against them.