IDF figures show rise in sexual harassment complaints within the military

The IDF has seen a rise in sexual harassment complaints in recent years, according to official figures provided by the military to the Hatzlacha nonprofit following a freedom of information petition.

In the first half of 2025, 1,630 complaints were submitted — 1,188, or 73%, of which were incidents of sexual harassment within IDF units, according to the data.

Another 226 complaints, or 14%, concerned sexual harassment in civilian circumstances; 10% were in civilian circumstances but before the complainant’s enlistment in the IDF; and 3% were domestic and partner violence cases.

Among the sexual harassment complaints within IDF units, the data shows that there has been a sharp increase in complaints regarding a hostile work environment, including crude and sexual discourse. In the first half of 2024, 133 such complaints were reported, while in the first half of 2025, 275 such complaints were reported.

In all of 2024, 2,092 cases of sexual harassment were reported to the IDF, including 73% within the military. The data shows that 82% of the victims were women, and most of the offenders are male soldiers in their mandatory service.

Of 2024’s complaints, only 235 became “official complaints,” and by the end of the year, only 49 indictments were filed, according to the data cited by Hatzlacha.

In 2023, 1,877 sexual harassment complaints were recorded; in 2022, 1,744; and in 2021, 1,567.

היום מסר @IDFSpokesperson להצלחה באמצעות @elad_man נתונים עדכניים הנוגעים להטרדות מיניות בצה"ל. pic.twitter.com/DIdHCSlYBj

— הצלחה – לקידום חברה הוגנת (ע"ר) (@htl2008) November 17, 2025