Israeli Soldiers Asked Not to Return to Gaza
About 20 soldiers in an Israeli infantry brigade this week asked not to return to the fighting in Gaza, in a move seen as a reflection of the attrition and psychological pressure brought on by the conflict, Israeli state television channel KAN reported.
The report said that about 10 soldiers received notice that they would be tried for refusing military orders if they did not agree to return to the Gaza Strip on August 27. Some soldiers said they could no longer return after 10 months of fighting in Gaza, but Were ready to carry out other military duties.
Similar voices were also heard from other battalions fighting in the Gaza Strip, with some families of soldiers expressing concern that their children were being forced to join the ground offensive in Gaza and that they would otherwise be imprisoned.
According to the report, an unnamed army spokesman said in a statement that commanders in the army were making every effort to support and assist soldiers in continuing to carry out various operational tasks. He also noted that no criminal sanctions, including prison sentences, would be imposed on the soldiers.
While this situation comes to the fore as an important factor affecting the morale and motivation of the soldiers, it also leads to discussions on the internal dynamics of the army.
