Givati soldiers jailed after refusing mission with female paramedic

Sixteen soldiers from the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion have been sentenced to military prison following their refusal to participate in an operational mission in the Gaza Strip. The refusal was based on the assignment of a female paramedic to the Namer armored personnel carrier they were scheduled to board. The incident resulted in the cancellation of the mission.

Disciplinary actions included 10-day sentences for five soldiers identified as leaders of the refusal, while 11 others received five-day sentences. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) noted that two of the soldiers receiving longer sentences will undergo evaluation before being permitted to return to combat duty.

The sentencing has sparked significant political and religious backlash. MK Avi Maoz criticized the defense establishment, stating, “You are turning your back on IDF soldiers,” and argued that the military is harming observant troops. Religious leaders and organizations, such as Wives of Soldiers for the Sanctity of the Camp, have also condemned the command's decisions.

In response to the rulings, religious Zionist activists held protests near the entrance to Jerusalem, specifically around the Chords Bridge. Demonstrators intermittently blocked roadways, leading to police intervention to restore traffic flow and maintain public order.