IDF soldier filmed firing volley of shots toward Gaza gets 20 days in prison
Punishment for Golani solider, who reportedly uploaded the video to social media himself, comes amid wider concern over inappropriate conduct in the Israeli military
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An IDF soldier who posted a video of himself firing a volley of shots at Gaza received a sentence of 20 days in prison on Wednesday.
The army said it would weigh whether the soldier can return to combat after his prison sentence. It said the video represented “a grave incident that does not accord with the values of the IDF and with the standards expected of combat soldiers and their commanders.”
The video was published as concern is said to have risen within the IDF’s top brass about inappropriate behavior among troops. Kan reported that this week, the General Staff held a discussion about disciplinary issues, including misuse of weaponry, disobeying orders, and flaunting proper procedure. Military leaders are seeking to stress discipline among troops and reinforce the military’s values.
The video was reportedly first uploaded to social media by the soldier himself, a member of the Golani Brigade, and depicted him firing toward Gaza “in honor of the new year.”
The Ynet news site reported that the video was filmed on December 26, 2025, and was circulated widely online by pro-Palestinian activists, racking up millions of views.
The soldier was not pictured wearing a helmet or a ballistic vest, indicating he was not involved in any operational activity.
The IDF condemned the video as it spread, and said it would open an investigation and mete out consequences accordingly.
תיעוד שהעלה לוחם צה"ל לסטורי שלו בו הוא נראה יורה לעבר רצועת עזה "לכבוד השנה החדשה" הופץ ברשתות החברתיות וצבר מיליוני צפיות. דובר צה"ל: "פעל בניגוד לנהלים. האירוע יתוחקר לעומק"@roysharon11 pic.twitter.com/4LOEUT1VpI
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) January 5, 2026
Throughout two years of war in Gaza, many anti-Israel activists have scoured the social media profiles of IDF soldiers and reservists looking for questionable and illicit activity and, in some cases, using the profiles to seek charges against the soldiers when they travel abroad.
The IDF has launched similar investigations against such unauthorized activity in the past. Previous investigations have centered on videos of soldiers opening fire during Purim services; burning books, including a Quran; and playing with lingerie in Gaza.
An IDF investigation published in January 2025 found that military discipline was increasingly relaxed as the fighting in Gaza dragged on. The probe found that “operational fatigue” had led to a “loosening of discipline and safety in the various units.”
According to Kan, in November, approximately 100 reservist soldiers and officers sent a letter to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir expressing concern about “the crumbling of IDF structures.”
“Over the course of the fighting in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria [the West Bank] and Lebanon, events took place and at times are still taking place that do not accord with the spirit and values of the IDF, which we were taught, and which we taught those we command.”
Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.