Givati Brigade Commander Defends Battalion Commander Over Controversial Signs Used for Hazing

Brigade Commander Colonel Natanel Shamka addressed the recent soldier rebellion at the Sde Teyman base, explaining that the signs removed by the battalion commander were used in hazing rituals targeting younger soldiers. Shamka supported the battalion commander’s actions, stating the signs symbolized abuse and harassment, not tradition, and emphasized ongoing efforts to eradicate such behavior within the brigade.

The incident occurred last week when dozens of veteran soldiers from the Sabra Battalion protested by leaving the base while chanting against their officers. They claimed the signs were symbols of their combat experience in Gaza and Lebanon and part of the battalion’s tradition. The battalion commander personally removed and destroyed some signs, which further inflamed tensions. Shamka clarified that none of the damaged symbols belonged to fallen soldiers and confirmed communication with bereaved families to assure no disrespect was intended.

Following the event, disciplinary measures were taken: 18 leading soldiers were sentenced to 30 days in military prison and expelled from combat service, while about 80 others who left and returned underwent a command-led educational process to reinforce discipline and values.

In a podcast, Shamka reflected on the brigade’s combat achievements, including the historic recovery of the bodies of Lt. Col. Asaf Hamami and Lt. Hadar Goldin, calling it an emotional milestone. He also recounted intense fighting in Gaza’s Beit Hanoun and southern Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil, highlighting the brigade’s successful crossing of the Litani River for the first time since 1982.

Shamka distinguished the brigade’s operations in the West Bank as more precise and intelligence-driven, citing the targeted killing of terrorist Tarek Daoud as an example. He described the brigade’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and discipline as a lasting personal legacy.