Israeli soldiers stage mutiny at Sde Teiman base over removal of memorial display

Dozens of Israeli soldiers staged what Israeli media described as a mutiny on Thursday after leaving the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel in protest against orders to remove a memorial display linked to battles they had fought in. The soldiers later returned to the base.

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that dozens of soldiers from the Tsavar Battalion of the Givati Brigade walked out of the Sde Teiman base chanting: “To hell with all the officers.”

The newspaper said the soldiers were protesting after their commanders removed signs and symbols they had installed.

According to the report, the battalion commander had ordered the removal of a memorial corner inside the base containing flags and items commemorating battles in which the soldiers had taken part. The decision reportedly angered the troops and prompted the protest.

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Yedioth Ahronoth later reported that the soldiers had returned to the battalion without explaining how the protest had ended.

Meanwhile, Maariv said around 100 of the battalion’s 115 soldiers returned to the base later the same day after leaving early on Thursday morning.

The Israeli military spokesperson’s office said: “A short while ago, soldiers from a combat battalion began leaving their base without their commanders’ permission following the battalion commander’s decision to remove signs.”

The spokesperson, quoted by Israeli media, added: “The incident is under investigation and is being handled by commanders. This incident is inconsistent with the values of the Israeli military and what is expected of its soldiers.”

Israel’s public broadcaster reported that the soldiers had recently returned from Lebanon and were ordered to dismantle a memorial area containing flags and mementoes honouring fallen comrades. In protest, they reportedly laid down their weapons.

The broadcaster described the incident as a “mutiny”.

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