Israeli Defense Minister Intervenes in Controversy Over Religious Soldiers Refusing to Ride with Female Medic

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced he will personally address a dispute in the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade after three religious soldiers refused to enter an armored personnel carrier (Namer) with a female paramedic, citing adherence to the IDF's joint service regulations. The issue came to light during a government meeting when Minister Amichai Eliyahu requested Katz's intervention. Katz responded that he would clarify the rules and handle the matter promptly.

The incident began when three soldiers from the religious soldiers' platoon declined to board the vehicle with the female medic, following their religious convictions and the joint service order. Subsequently, all soldiers in the platoon were placed under a 21-day confinement punishment, and the IDF considered dismissing the three from combat roles. It was reported that rabbis Zvi Kostiner and Shlomo Shoshan, heads of the yeshivas where these soldiers study, instructed their students not to board the vehicle.

After the three refused, other soldiers were asked if they would enter the vehicle with the medic, but none agreed. The IDF commanders imposed the confinement on the entire platoon and evaluated the possibility of removing the three from combat duties. The Hesder Yeshivot Association expressed support for the soldiers, emphasizing that they acted according to the joint service directive and called on the IDF to respect soldiers' religious observance and avoid punishing those who comply with the order. The association also criticized recent lapses by commanders in upholding these regulations, calling for immediate change to protect religious soldiers' rights and lifestyles.