Givati Brigade Soldiers Face Disciplinary Action After Refusing to Share APC With Female Paramedic

Soldiers from the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade declined to board an armored personnel carrier alongside a female paramedic during a Wednesday operational drill and are set to face disciplinary proceedings as a result of the incident.

The drill, conducted overnight on Wednesday, required the unit to make use of an armored personnel carrier as part of its training activities.

“In accordance with the Joint Service Order, soldiers who maintain a religious way of life are entitled to carry out operational activity in a gender-segregated framework, except in exceptional cases,” the IDF stated.

“In the incident described, the force refused to carry out the operational activity, and as a result, the activity was canceled. The incident is being investigated, and command measures will be taken in accordance with the findings.”

Commanders within the battalion were informed of the incident and determined that the soldiers involved would be subject to a disciplinary hearing. The IDF noted that the proceedings have not yet been carried out.

In June, amid the ongoing public and legal debate over the integration of women into combat positions, the IDF issued a clarification noting that the High Court of Justice had not mandated the recruitment of female combat soldiers into the Armored Corps, but had instead directed the military to conduct a pilot program exploring the possibility.

The IDF emphasized that the pilot was designed as a preliminary assessment and did not represent a binding commitment to fully integrate women into these roles.

“After approximately two and a half years of fighting on multiple fronts and an expansion of missions, the IDF needs every male and female combat soldier,” the military said in its statement at the time.

IDF begins to integrate women in combat through pilot programs

Following the announcement of the pilot, hesder yeshivas declared that they would discontinue sending their students for enlistment.

Shortly thereafter, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir addressed the matter at a conference of the IDF Employees Organization, responding to a letter issued by rabbis affiliated with the hesder yeshivas.

“The IDF is the people’s army, and therefore there is paramount importance in integrating all sectors of the population into its ranks, especially in the combat array,” Zamir stated, underscoring what he characterized as the army’s distinctive character.

In his remarks, Zamir concentrated on the logistical and social challenges associated with such integration efforts.

“This complex integration of women in the military will always be carried out in a manner that allows one sector of the public to serve alongside another, and not at its expense,” he said.

Several days later, during a discussion on preparations for the pilot program, the chief of staff made clear that there was no intention to assign men and women together in tank crews, whether during training exercises or operational missions.

“If the trial is successful, the integration of women will be carried out within a designated framework, at least at the company level,” Zamir said.

According to Zamir, certain adjustments would be necessary when operating as part of a combat team, in line with the IDF’s Joint Service Order.

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