Israeli soldiers refuse to return to Gaza and face punishment

The Israeli military decided to punish four soldiers from the 931st Battalion of the Nahal Brigade after they informed their commanders of their refusal to participate in a new round of fighting inside the Gaza Strip, despite having served in several previous rounds since the outbreak of Israel's war of extermination in the Strip.

According to a report published by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11) on Sunday, three of the soldiers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one week to 12 days, while the case of the fourth soldier has not yet been decided. All four were also excluded from any future combat missions.

The report stated that the four soldiers fought inside Gaza for months, and during their service, they lost several comrades and were exposed to "harsh scenes and tragic experiences," according to the mother of one of them, who said, "These things will remain deeply etched in their hearts."

According to the report, the soldiers informed their commanders that they were unable to return to the Strip "not out of fear, but as a result of a deep internal crisis," as they described it. They noted that "instead of receiving psychological support, they were sent directly to prison," they said.

The report stated that the discussion about their decision took place directly between the soldiers and their commanders, and that the soldiers were aware of the consequences of refusal, including prison sentences, and expressed their willingness to bear them.

In response, the Israeli army said: "Three regular soldiers from the Nahal Brigade refused to enter combat in the Gaza Strip, despite having undergone a psychological evaluation by a mental health officer who deemed them fit to participate in combat."

The Israeli army added: "After disciplinary action, the soldiers persisted in their refusal, so they were punished by imprisonment in a military prison."

The army stressed that "the situation was handled sensitively and in accordance with orders. However, the army views the behavior of refusing orders, especially during combat, as extremely serious, and will continue to uphold discipline and command values."

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