IDF removes reservists from Gaza over video of them shooting during Purim scroll reading

By Emanuel Fabian

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15 March 2025, 4:32 pm 11 Edit

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

The IDF has taken out a platoon of reservists from the Gaza Strip after a video posted to social media showed the troops opening fire during the reading of the Book of Esther.

One of the central traditions around the Jewish holiday of Purim is making noise when the name of the villainous Haman is proclaimed during the reading of the Megillah.

The video shows one of the reservists reading the Megillah and other troops — of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade’s 7015th Battalion — stationed in a buffer zone on the Gaza border opening fire toward the Strip when the name of Haman is mentioned.

In response, the IDF says that once the incident was made known to commanders, the platoon commander and soldiers involved in the incident were taken out of Gaza and “will be dealt with disciplinary action accordingly.”

“The behavior of the soldiers in the video is contrary to IDF values and operational procedures,” the army adds.