After nearly two years of war and with no end in sight amid the upcoming major operation, Israel's military chief warned of the additional burden on troops, many of whom have been called up several times to fight in Gaza.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told the security cabinet earlier this month that the military was facing exhaustion and fatigue, but his concerns were dismissed as Netanyahu and his coalition partners pressed ahead with new war plans.
A new study from Agam Laboratories at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggested that roughly 40% of soldiers were slightly or significantly less motivated to serve, while just over 13% were more motivated. The findings underscore the grim reality facing Israel’s military, which may face limitations on its manpower, especially as polls have consistently shown that an overwhelming majority of the country supports ending the war.
Military leaders have called on the government to draft ultra-Orthodox soldiers to fill the beleaguered troops. But the vast majority of the ultra-Orthodox community has refused to serve, and at their request, the government is pushing for a broad exemption from compulsory military service. The fact that this political debate is taking place in the midst of war has only fueled the anger of many of those who serve.
After the security cabinet approved the new operation, a small reservist organization in Israel repeated calls for soldiers to refuse military orders to serve. “Your children don’t know how to refuse themselves, because it’s difficult. It’s almost impossible,” the “Soldiers for Hostages” association said on social media earlier this month.
Other reservist organizations have not publicly advocated for open refusal, which is more likely a private decision not to serve. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) does not publish the number or percentage of reservists who do not show up when called up.
