Israel teens jailed for refusing military service in protest of ongoing Gaza war

Two Israeli teenagers, Iddo Elam and Soul Behar Tsalik, were sentenced to 30 days in military prison this week for refusing mandatory conscription in protest of Israel’s war in Gaza and its ongoing Occupation of Palestinian Territories.

The 18-year-olds from Tel Aviv joined a growing group of young Israelis who have publicly refused to enlist in the military for political reasons since the start of the war on 7 October.

Accompanied by supporters, including family, friends, and activists from Mesarvot, a solidarity network for conscientious objectors, the pair reported to the Tel Hashomer recruitment centre on Wednesday, where they declared their refusal to enlist.

After their declaration, they were transferred to Neve Tzedek military prison to begin their sentences, which may be extended.

In a written statement before his imprisonment, Elam wrote, “As long as we continue to enlist, follow orders and enact our government’s rotten goals, we will live in a reality of war, annexation and hate.”

READ: ‘Accomplice to genocide’: Conscientious objector jailed for refusing to join Israel army

He added,

I want no child, no matter which side of the wall they were born, to be afraid of rockets or being kidnapped from their beds. We have to do everything in our power to make sure that the children of the future live in security

Behar Tsalik also called for an end to Israel’s military occupation and the war in Gaza, writing, “We must end the war and Israel’s presence in Gaza — for the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

There may be attempts to shift our attention to Lebanon or Iran, but the reality in Gaza does not change — we are controlling Gaza. We continue the violence there and continue to forsake the hostages. We must move from violent confrontation to a political solution. Only then can we begin to build a lasting peace

Military service is mandatory for Israeli citizens over the age of 18; however, conscientious objection is rare and often punished harshly. Refuseniks are frequently subjected to multiple prison sentences before being released.

Moreover, since 7 October, the Israeli military has increased penalties for refusal. Elam and Behar Tsalik are among eight teenagers who have publicly refused the draft since the war began.

The announcement of Elam and Behar Tsalik’s imprisonment was met with demonstrations of support outside the recruitment centre, where supporters held signs and chanted messages of solidarity. Some argued that the teenagers’ refusal represents a growing undercurrent of dissent among Israeli youth, despite the government’s push for national unity in war time.

Their refusal follows the imprisonment of other Israeli teenagers who have also refused military service in recent months including Tal Mitnick, Sophia Orr, Ben Arad, Yuval Moav and Oryan Mueller.

They hope their actions will spark a broader conversation about Israel’s military onslaught in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the ethics of mandatory conscription. “It doesn’t make sense that there have been seven wars in Gaza since I was born, which Gazan children have also experienced and many of them have died in,” said Elam.

“I refuse because I believe that as long as we continue to comply with the government, the war and this agenda of death and more death, that’s exactly what we’ll get: death and more death. We must use every tool to resist, to make it stop — including refusing and paying a personal price.”

READ: An Israeli conscientious objector highlights genocidal language used by Israeli government