Imprisoned Givati Soldiers Demand Urgent Mental Health Support After Shakedown Incident

Soldiers from the Givati Brigade's Tzabar Battalion who were imprisoned following the recent mutiny at Sde Teyman have urgently called for mental health assistance, which they have not received. While their fellow soldiers participated in an emotional processing workshop after intense combat, the detained soldiers were excluded from this critical therapeutic support. Their lawyer, Zehava Gur, sent an urgent letter to the IDF Chief of Staff warning of severe psychological harm and emphasizing that ongoing legal proceedings do not negate their right to medical and mental health care.

The letter highlights that the emotional processing sessions were planned for all soldiers before their deployment to Lebanon and before the mutiny incident that led to the imprisonment of some soldiers shortly after their return. Despite this, the detained soldiers were arbitrarily denied participation in the workshop, which is considered a mandatory part of post-combat care in the IDF.

The imprisoned soldiers have endured prolonged and dangerous combat conditions, including months of continuous fighting and a year in the Gaza Strip. Their exclusion from mental health support is described as a harmful and unjust decision. Gur stresses that accusations against the soldiers do not remove their urgent need for psychological treatment, and withholding such care is legally and ethically problematic.

In response, the IDF spokesperson denied the claims, stating that imprisoned soldiers will receive the same mental health support as other soldiers after completing their sentences, and that individual care is available to any soldier in distress within the prison system. The IDF reaffirmed its commitment to the mental well-being of all its personnel.