3 IDF soldiers dismissed and jailed for refusing to return to Gaza fighting

Three IDF soldiers serving in the Nahal Infantry Brigade have been dismissed from combat duty and jailed for insubordination, the military says.

The case was first reported by the Kan public broadcaster and later confirmed by the IDF.

According to Kan, four soldiers in Nahal’s 931st Battalion were dismissed from combat for refusing to enter Gaza after several rounds of fighting in the Strip.

Three were sentenced and will serve seven to 12 days in jail, while the fourth has not yet been sentenced.

Kan reports that the four told their commanders that they cannot enter Gaza again because of “a deep internal crisis.”

The IDF responds to the report by saying that the three standing army soldiers of the Nahal Brigade “refused to enter the fighting in the Gaza Strip.”

The army notes that the soldiers met with a mental health officer, “who determined that they were fit to participate in combat.”

“After a disciplinary procedure, the fighters stood by their refusal and were therefore sentenced to imprisonment in a military prison,” the IDF says.

The IDF says that the case was handled with “sensitivity and in accordance with orders,” adding that it views “insubordination gravely, especially during combat, and will continue to uphold discipline and command values.”