IDF Soldiers Jailed for Refusing to Serve With Female Medic

Three soldiers from the Givati Brigade's Rotem Battalion, who are students at Hesder Yeshivas, have been sentenced to 10 days in military prison for refusing to board an armored personnel carrier (APC) because a female combat medic was present. The incident occurred during operational activity in the Gaza Strip.

The soldiers' refusal led to the cancellation of the planned mission. According to sources familiar with the matter, after the initial refusal, other soldiers in the squad also declined to board the APC with the medic. The battalion commander reportedly spoke with the soldiers about the importance and urgency of the mission, but they remained steadfast in their refusal. The brigade rabbi was also involved and reportedly approved the mission's execution with the medic present due to its critical nature.

The decision to imprison the soldiers has sparked widespread outrage among religious Zionist circles. MK Avi Maoz of the Noam party criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of "turning their backs" on IDF soldiers and compromising their religious beliefs. He urged the soldiers to remain proud of their Jewish identity.

Rabbi Dror Aryeh of the Sderot Hesder Yeshiva condemned the commander's actions, calling it "unprecedented audacity" and accusing the defense minister of failing to protect soldiers from "progressive madness." He asserted that the soldiers are heroes and that their commanders acted against Halakha (Jewish law) and orders.

The "Women Soldiers for the Sanctity of the Camp" organization demanded the soldiers' immediate release, labeling the incident a "moral low point" driven by a "progressive coercion agenda." They emphasized that the IDF is a Jewish army and that observant soldiers should not be persecuted for adhering to religious principles.

Rabbi Chagai Londer, head of the Holon Yeshiva, sent a message of support to the soldiers, linking their decision to their service to God and preparation for Rosh Hashanah, stating they passed a test of loyalty to the Divine will over personal interests or external pressures.

The Hesder Yeshivas Association defended the soldiers, arguing they acted in accordance with directives on joint service and should not be punished. The IDF stated that while soldiers with religious lifestyles are entitled to gender-segregated operational activities, exceptions are made in rare cases, and in this instance, the refusal to perform the mission led to its cancellation.