Animal Welfare Groups Criticize IDF's Treatment of Injured Animals on Bases

Animal welfare organizations are escalating their campaign against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), demanding better treatment for injured animals found on military bases. While IDF regulations prohibit soldiers from feeding or interacting with stray animals on bases, these groups argue the military fails to provide necessary care for animals injured within its territory. The National Council for the Protection of Animal Rights, part of the Israel Bar Association, has formally requested the IDF to clarify its procedures and act in accordance with the law.

Organizations report receiving hundreds of monthly inquiries from soldiers encountering animals in severe distress. A particularly egregious incident at the Nevatim base involved a stray dog tied to a tree without water, prompting an investigation by military police. The animal welfare groups are pushing for clearer directives and are not ruling out legal action.

The IDF maintains that stray animals not serving the military are the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and local authorities. However, the animal welfare groups contend that IDF regulations, specifically a directive prohibiting harm to animals through neglect or failure to provide emergency care, obligate the military to act when animals are already on base property and injured. They cite the Animal Cruelty Law, which requires those possessing or holding an animal to ensure its well-being.

Yuval Hivroni, director of the Israeli Vegan Way advocacy group, stated that hundreds of soldiers contact them monthly about injured or sick animals, citing a lack of response from the military veterinary corps. He described soldiers being forced into "inhumane situations" and even threatened by superiors for attempting to help. Hivroni detailed an incident at Nevatim base where a stray dog was allegedly ordered to be tied to a tree and left to die, with soldiers intervening to save it. A complaint was filed with military police regarding this incident.

In another case, a severely injured cat with amputated legs was found on a base. Despite efforts by soldiers and welfare groups, the cat, which was reportedly in critical condition, was likely euthanized. The IDF stated that while stray animals are primarily the responsibility of civilian authorities, the military "adopts a broad approach of responsibility" and works to address the issue according to annual plans and existing directives. The IDF also emphasized its prohibition on soldiers initiating contact with stray animals to prevent disease transmission, noting that the military health corps' primary role is to protect soldiers' health, though it does monitor and address animal cruelty cases.