16 Israeli soldiers jailed for refusing to ride in APC with female medic

The commander of the Rotem Battalion in the IDF's Givati Brigade has sentenced 16 soldiers to military prison for refusing to board a Namer armored personnel carrier that was carrying a female paramedic. Five soldiers received 10-day sentences, while 11 others were sentenced to five days of confinement. The IDF stated that two of the soldiers sentenced to 10 days will undergo an evaluation before being permitted to return to combat duties. The incident occurred as the force was preparing for an operational activity in the Gaza Strip. According to the military, company commanders attempted to explain the urgency of the mission, but the soldiers maintained their refusal, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the activity. The IDF noted that under the joint service order, religious soldiers are generally entitled to gender-segregated frameworks, except in unusual operational circumstances. The sentencing has sparked significant backlash from religious and political figures. MK Avi Maoz, chairman of the Noam party, criticized the defense establishment, accusing it of turning its back on soldiers. Several rabbis from Hesder yeshivas also condemned the decision, arguing that the commanders acted against religious law. The organization Wives of Soldiers for the Sanctity of the Camp demanded the immediate release of the soldiers and called for disciplinary action against the officers involved.