2024-01-25T19:53:19+00:00
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/ Israeli media reported that dozens of female soldiers in the Israeli army were arrested after they refused to leave an Israeli army recruitment center after they were assigned to work as military observers, according to a report published by the Israeli news website “Ynet” and reported by the newspaper “Haaretz”.
The report said a group of approximately 50 female recruits were arrested or detained for refusing to leave the recruitment center and travel to the training base at the Border Protection School in Siyarim, Israel, to prepare for work as observers.
The Israeli army denied reports that the refusing female soldiers were detained or arrested, and said that they were sent home.
A spokesman for the Israeli army recruitment center where the incident occurred said that the percentage of female recruits refusing to work was expected and within normal limits, especially after the events of October 7.
According to Haaretz, Hamas’ attack on towns in southern Israel on October 7, including the Nahal Oz military base, killed 15 female observers and took six others hostage in Gaza.
The newspaper added that a number of female observers managed to survive the attack after taking refuge in a room in the base and hiding there among the bodies of the dead.
A group of female soldiers tasked with surveillance revealed to the newspaper last November that their numerous attempts to warn their commanders of unusual activity along the border fence were largely ignored in the days and weeks leading up to the Hamas infiltration.
These warnings included reports of Hamas movements near the fence, drone activity and attempts to destroy surveillance cameras, as well as extensive use of trucks and motorcycles, and even training to target tanks.
The newspaper says that the female soldiers believe that the refusal to heed their warnings stems partly from the arrogance of the officers in charge of them and also because of gender discrimination because they are women.
“There is no doubt that if there were men watching in front of those screens, things would have been different,” the newspaper quoted one of the observers as saying.