Israeli army to imprison soldiers deserting from regular military service, reserves

By Anadolu staff

JERUSALEM (AA) – The Israeli army intended to imprison soldiers who had deserted from regular military service and reserves following the end of the war that Tel Aviv launched in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7.

“After the war, the Israeli Military Prosecution intends to tighten the punishment for deserters from regular service and reserves,” Israeli Army Radio said on Friday.

“Those who refuse to comply with military service will be sentenced to prolonged prison sentences up to several months, in addition to reducing their military rank,” it added.

Israeli Army Radio did not provide information regarding the number of soldiers who declined to serve in the military as well as the reasons for their refusal.

The Military Defense Department released a statement, which was cited on the radio, telling soldiers who refused to serve to "contact your units urgently before the harsher punishment policy comes into effect."

“The Military Defense Department was able to convince the Israeli army to give another chance to those who did not comply with the service,” the radio said.

The Israeli army announced that it had summoned about 360,000 reserve soldiers to participate in the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

Many soldiers refused to participate in the war “for reasons of conscience.” However, observers link their desertion to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which claimed the lives of dozens of soldiers, particularly in the ground battles that began on Oct. 27.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi