Viral TikTok videos of IDF soldiers have drawn criticism, including from far-right figure Baruch Marzel, who called them a 'bunch of mentally ill progressives' and lamented 'what you did to the army.' Some responses defended the soldiers. The exchange reflects a broader cultural rift within Israeli society.
A social media storm erupted Thursday night after a series of TikTok videos showing IDF soldiers in informal, humorous or provocative contexts went viral, drawing sharp criticism from Baruch Marzel, a far-right activist previously barred from Knesset candidacy over incitement to racism. In a post, Marzel wrote: 'What have you done to our army, you bunch of mentally ill progressives.'
The incident, reported by reports, highlights a widening cultural and political rift in Israel, where the military is often a battleground for competing visions of national identity. Some commenters defended the soldiers, asking 'what scares you so much about a few gays.' The debate underscores tensions between traditionalist and progressive values within the ranks and society at large.
No official IDF response has been reported; the story remains an online controversy.
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