IDF Soldier Publicly Criticizes Central Command Chief Over Administrative Detention Orders

An Israeli Defense Forces soldier openly criticized Major General Avi Blot, commander of the Central Command, in a video released on Thursday morning. The soldier demanded that Blot stop issuing administrative detention orders, accusing him of fighting against fellow Jews instead of enemies. This controversy follows the administrative house arrest of Tal Yinon Dradik, a young resident of the Samaria region, suspected of involvement in a serious nationalist crime. Blot imposed the house arrest order on Dradik at his mother-in-law's home after receiving intelligence material.

In the video, the soldier said, "Unfortunately, in the army I serve, some commanders forget our real war. Instead of fighting our enemies, they fight Jews. Avi Blot, you send me to war with one hand and sign administrative orders against my friends with the other. I demand you stop these administrative orders." The case has sparked a broad media campaign, including a letter sent to Defense Minister Israel Katz by rabbis protesting Dradik's detention. The rabbis described Dradik as someone developing an important settlement point and protecting the land, calling for his immediate release and an end to administrative orders against settlers.

Dradik has initiated a hunger strike in protest of his detention. Security officials say he is linked to a serious nationalist crime that occurred weeks ago. Since Katz took office in November 2024, he has canceled the use of administrative detention orders against Jews, leaving only house arrest and exclusion orders available to security forces. The IDF and police are working to combat nationalist crime, recently conducting widespread arrests of prominent activists, some charged with involvement in violent acts.

Both Major General Blot and Police Commander Moshe Pinchi are attempting to distinguish violent offenders from others and act specifically against the most violent group. In response to the soldier's video, the IDF stated it views the soldier's remarks seriously, deeming them unacceptable and inconsistent with IDF values. The soldier was summoned for a disciplinary hearing, and the incident is under investigation. The IDF emphasized that movement restriction orders signed by the Central Command are based on clear, substantiated evidence and are necessary for regional security.