A segment of Jewish youth in Israel has refused to perform military service in light of the recent war with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). They also oppose the occupation of Palestinian territories, the bombing of Gaza, and the killing of civilians.

According to Israeli regulations, the period of compulsory military service is 32 months for males over the age of 18, and 24 months for women, and anyone who refuses to do so may face imprisonment for up to 200 days, in addition to social pressure.

Despite this, there are young Jews who refuse military service, even if the price is imprisonment, as they say, on the grounds that the Israeli army persecutes the Palestinians and practices injustice against them.

In a statement to Anadolu Agency, the young man Tal Mitnick (18 years old), who lives in the Bat Yam area south of Tel Aviv, said that the Israeli army practices injustice against the Palestinians, and explained that he has finished secondary education and will refuse to perform military service.

He said that the Israeli army is the operational arm of the Jewish elite in the region, and it is based on the oppression of the Palestinian people. Mitnick refuses to be part of this oppression, and pointed out that those who think like him about Israel are a minority, indicating that this situation is slowly beginning to change.

Refusal of conscription

For his part, Ariel Davidov (19 years old), who lives in a neighborhood close to occupied Jerusalem, said that he had been in contact with human rights defense groups since he was a child, and stated that he had witnessed the use of severe violence by Israeli forces against Palestinians in East Jerusalem neighborhoods, such as Sheikh Jarrah, indicating that he participated in the protests against attempts to Judaize the Holy City.

He expressed his rejection of military service in the ranks of the Israeli army, saying that he did not want to be part of injustice and immorality, as he put it, and he went on to say that there has been genocide going on since the beginning of Zionism, which wanted to use Palestine and its people for their own interests, but this situation cannot be achieved. To continue this way, according to his words.

He continued, "Many of my close friends have refused military service, and since I began my human rights activism, the group I belong to has been calling on everyone to refuse military service. This is the main part of my struggle, and many of my friends have been imprisoned for refusing to serve in the army." ".

Regarding the Hamas attack on October 7, Davidov said, “I do not think that this attack came out of nowhere. I see that the occupation and siege on Gaza is the main reason for that.”

The young Jewish woman Ella Kedar also refused to serve in the army, and expressed her belief that all people have the right to live freely, and she continued, “I do not want to serve in an army that occupies and implements a racist system, and I do not want to participate in this exploitative project of occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people.” ".

In light of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, leaders of the religious Jews (Haredim) renewed their opposition to recruitment into the occupation army. The participation of the Haredim in the army is one of the most sensitive and tense issues in Israeli society, as secularists oppose the religious Jews not being recruited and their gaining advantages beyond what they offer to Israel.< /p>