Über Gaza geteilt: die israelischen Soldaten, die an und diejenigen, die sich weigern

Like many young Israelis, Captain Ron Feiner had spent hundreds of days since the October 7 attacks as a reservist — in his case 270. But when he got his fourth and most recent call-up in May to serve in Gaza, he refused.

He could have cited medical or psychological reasons, so-called “grey refusal”, but the 26-year-old student at Haifa University wanted to make a point.

“I am appalled by the never-ending war in Gaza, the neglect of the hostages and the relentless death of innocents,” he said publicly. “I am morally unable to continue serving as long as there is no change.”

Feiner is not alone. Like him, Yuval Ben Ari, a social worker in Haifa, had been enthusiastic about serving after October 7 — even though the former infantryman had previously quit the army in protest against operations in the West Bank.

Many reservists have been quietly refusing to go back. Some reports suggest attendance has dropped to as little as 50 to 60%. Such a move has angered the more committed reservists. Matan Yaffe, 40, a Harvard graduate and social entrepreneur, who has served 350 days since October 7, admits as a married father of five boys aged four to 12, that “military service has affected everything — my wife worries, I miss my sons and I had to step away from running my NGO”