Crisis in Israeli army: 10,000 soldiers needed as 900 officers consider resigning amid Gaza war

By Palestine Chronicle Staff

TThe Israeli military recently acknowledged a crisis within its command, with a notable trend of officers at the rank of captain and major leaving their posts.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced Monday that the Israeli military urgently needs 10,000 additional troops in the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

“The army needs 10,000 additional soldiers immediately,” Gallant said, according to Army Radio, during a session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

He mentioned that the army could recruit 4,800 soldiers from among ultra-Orthodox men.

The decision follows the Israeli Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling last week that ultra-Orthodox Jews must be subject to military service, ending decades of exemption from military service.

Supreme Court Mandate

In a landmark decision that could have a significant impact on Israel’s political scene, the country’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that ultra-Orthodox Jews must be included in the military draft.

The court’s nine judges agreed that there was no legal basis for the government to exempt Haredi yeshiva students from military service, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan.

Additionally, the court ruled that the government can no longer provide financial support to Yeshiva student schools without an exemption from military service.

Since 2017, successive Israeli governments have struggled to reach consensus on conscription of Haredis after the Supreme Court struck down a 2015 law that exempted them from military service, citing a violation of the “principle of equality.”

Supreme Court Mandates: Ultra-Orthodox Jews Must Serve in Military

The Times of Israel reports that about 67,000 Haredi men are eligible for military service.

Religious parties, which are key allies of embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, oppose the conscription of Haredi Jews.

In contrast, secular and nationalist parties support him and demand that religious students share the “burden of war,” creating a significant challenge for Netanyahu’s coalition.

Haredi Jews, who make up about 13 percent of Israel’s population of about 9.7 million, traditionally do not serve in the military, citing their commitment to studying the Torah, Judaism’s holy book.

Netanyahu faces considerable political pressure due to public discontent over Israel’s eight-month offensive in Gaza and its ongoing political scandals.

Hamas Pays Salaries – Battle of Shejaiya Shows Uselessness of Israel’s War on Gaza

Army Crisis

Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 12 reported that the military has recently acknowledged a crisis among the command ranks, with a notable trend of officers at the ranks of captain and major leaving their posts.

Since the war began last year, about 900 officers have asked to review the publication of their contracts.

This crisis is due to several factors, including the events of October 7. Police officers have said they feel underestimated and delegitimized by the public and some politicians.

(PC, Anadolu)