IDF Chief of Staff Under Fire for Denying Soldiers Release Leave

The Israeli military's Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, is facing severe criticism for canceling the release leave for soldiers in the 601st Engineering Battalion. Critics argue this decision unfairly penalizes soldiers who have served intensively, including in Gaza, and have accumulated leave days. The cancellation means these soldiers, whose release date is December 2026, will not receive their earned leave before discharge, a move described as "shameful" and a violation of their basic rights.

Parents of the affected soldiers have filed complaints with the Soldiers' Complaints Commissioner, Brig. Gen. Rachel Tevet-Vizel, who has yet to investigate. The parents plan protest actions and are demanding that Zamir reverse the decision, which they deem ethically and legally unsound. They contend that the senior command is disregarding the needs of rank-and-file soldiers, drawing parallels to the failures leading up to the October 7th attacks, where warnings from lower ranks were allegedly ignored.

One parent stated that the military's senior command prioritizes its own officers over ordinary soldiers, failing to learn lessons from past intelligence and operational failures. He emphasized that senior officers must listen to the frontline soldiers who have made significant contributions, rather than solely engaging in mutual back-scratching among commanders. The parent called for a change in this approach, asserting that the current decision crushes soldiers' rights.

Critics suggest alternative solutions for any troop shortages, such as enlisting more soldiers or reservists, and improving mission planning and prioritization, rather than impacting soldiers' earned leave. They insist the decision is flawed and must be changed.