Israeli soldiers in the army's Golani Brigade punished for refusing to obey orders

Israeli media reported that anger has prevailed among the soldiers of the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade after four of the battalion’s soldiers were removed from combat over their refusal to follow military orders during the Israeli assault on Gaza.

Two of the soldiers were sent to prison and another two were withdrawn from combat duty after refusing to obey their commander’s orders in protest against one of their colleagues being formally investigated for theft.

Haaretz newspaper reported that: “Military police have decided to open an investigation against an [Israeli] combat soldier suspected of stealing cash from inside a house in the Gaza Strip while taking part in Operation Protective Edge.”

The soldiers claimed that this disciplinary move was injurious to the entire unit. In protest, the four soldiers refused to obey orders and were subsequently removed.

An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed that: “Due to a disciplinary incident that occurred within the battalion, commanders decided to review the event, and a military investigation was launched.”

The Israeli army is accused of committing war crimes in the latest assault against Gaza. But due to the culture of impunity in Israel, especially within the military, the UN Human Rights Council has launched its own investigation.