11 Hesder Soldiers Imprisoned Over Refusal to Serve With Female Medic to Be Released

Eleven of the 16 Hesder soldiers from the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade, who were imprisoned for refusing to perform a mission with a female medic, are expected to be released from military prison on Friday. The soldiers were punished last month after refusing to board an Namer armored personnel carrier for a mission in the Gaza Strip because a female medic was assigned to the unit. The IDF stated the mission was urgent, expected to last only two hours, and did not involve extended time in the Namer. The brigade rabbi permitted the soldiers to carry out the mission, but they consulted with rabbis outside the army. A military source indicated the company commander discussed the mission's importance with the soldiers, but they still refused. The soldiers' parents contested the military's account, claiming some of the punished soldiers were not present during the incident and did not refuse orders. They asserted their sons were punished for expressing their principled stance after the company commander asked how they would act in a similar situation. Another soldier, who completed the mission while adhering to his religious observance, received a punishment of confinement to base. In a letter to the Chief of Staff, the parents demanded an emergency meeting, citing a "crisis of confidence and command failure" within the battalion. They argued that misleading reports had unfairly branded an entire platoon as insubordinate. The parents stated the soldiers sought to exercise their right to serve according to the joint service order, but instead of rebuilding trust, the command imposed collective punishment, including imprisonment and denial of leave. They described the punishment as a "scandal" and questioned its legality, asserting that soldiers should not be imprisoned for upholding the joint service order and their faith. The parents warned this could significantly impact the willingness of yeshiva students to enlist in the IDF. They highlighted that these soldiers are outstanding, with their platoon ranking first in training evaluations and participating in combat in Lebanon and Gaza, where eight platoon members were wounded, three critically. Four additional soldiers were sentenced to imprisonment and removed from combat duty in relation to the incident.