Nine soldiers from one platoon in Givati's Sabar Battalion, who served in the Gaza Strip, were dismissed in the middle of the fighting and removed from the Strip earlier this week - on charges of refusing orders. This was reported today (Thursday) on the B channel.
The fighters fought for four months in Khan Yunis, Zeitoun, Shati, Rimal, and Jabaliya. They were ordered by the company commander to gather their belongings and leave the Strip.
According to them, "the company commander told us, 'In ten minutes, gather your equipment and fly out of here, I don't trust you.'".
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
This is the veteran operational company and the soldiers who are about to be discharged within four months.
The soldiers, it was alleged, refused orders. One of the soldiers abandoned his position and they walked around without helmets and vests.
Initially, they were punished by being given additional guard duties at positions. On Sunday, the company commander returned to the company and told them: "I'm involved in combat. I understand that you refuse orders and walk around without weapons. I don't trust you. You get out of here and be assigned to other places, and we'll take away your warrior's badge.".
The soldiers claim that they risked their lives for a long time: "We fought, we lost friends, and now they are throwing us away. We were close to the commanders in the NMAR, we were abandoned by commanders who were with us in all the fighting above and below the ground. Now they are threatening to take away our combat certificate and everything we deserve.".
The soldiers' parents claimed: "The soldiers had been in Gaza for a long time and were completely exhausted and worn out. Instead of taking them out to refresh themselves, instead of giving them a military uniform when they asked for it - they humiliate them, throw them out without a shred of sensitivity and threaten them with losing their combatant's ID.".
An IDF spokesman said in response: "These are a number of soldiers who violated army orders and were removed from the Strip until an investigation into the matter is conducted. An investigation will be conducted tomorrow headed by the brigade commander, and decisions will be made at the end. The soldiers were not removed from their positions.".
