Israel covering up reserve soldiers' reluctance to serve, report says

The Israeli occupation army is covering up the surge in the number of reserve soldiers refusing to serve, Haaretz newspaper reported.

“The reserve soldiers’ reluctance to serve has become a reality,” the paper said, noting that only half of the reserve soldiers have shown up for “duty”, while the Israeli occupation army is trying to cover this fact up.

The paper added that the army predicts an increase in the burden on regular forces due to the Gaza war and the strengthening of security on the border.

On Sunday, Israel Hayom newspaper published new data from the Israeli military revealing significant difficulties in recruiting members of the ultra-Orthodox community.

“Only 177 individuals have been drafted out of 10,000 draft orders issued to them since July 2024, representing a mere 1.77%” the paper said citing data shared during a meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee.

Lieutenant Colonel Avigdor Dickstein, who is responsible for promoting ultra-Orthodox recruitment into the Israeli occupation military, said the military sent 2,231 second draft orders to those who failed to comply with the first order, and issued more than 1,000 arrest warrants for draft evaders.

Military Police are not planning to make arrests, reports say.

READ: Israel confirms release of 5 Lebanese detainees, media reports