Amid troop shortage, IDF to call up reservists previously released from duty

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered the IDF to call back to duty reservists who were previously exempted due to personnel reductions.

The IDF in a joint statement with the Defense Ministry says the move comes following a new assessment and “the scope of the activities of the standing army and reserve forces, and as part of a process planned by the IDF to increase the reserve of service members.”

The reservists who will be called back to duty are those who were released from service due to personnel reductions and are younger than the exemption age, which is 40 for most soldiers, 45 for officers, and 49 for specialists.

The IDF says it has begun to call relevant Israelis who served in critical roles, and those who are fit to return to serve as reservists will do so “according to the operational need.”