Soldiers from the Tzabar battalion who were jailed following the Sde Teiman rebellion incident have sent an urgent letter via their lawyer to the IDF Chief of Staff, warning that they have been denied mental health care while their comrades received emotional processing workshops. The letter warns of severe harm to their mental well-being and demands immediate psychological treatment, according to Noam Amir (Channel 14).
The urgent appeal underscores the ongoing mental health crisis within the IDF, particularly among combat soldiers who have served extensively during the current war. The Tzabar soldiers' letter comes as the military has concluded disciplinary proceedings against 18 soldiers from the battalion following the mass walkout at Sde Teiman in late July. As The Zioneer reported, the last four soldiers were tried on August 4, with sentences of 20–30 days imprisonment and dismissal from combat duty.
The soldiers' lawyer argues that legal proceedings should not deny them basic medical care. The broader context includes a severe shortage of mental health resources for IDF personnel. The Defense Ministry warned in July that the rehabilitation system for wounded soldiers, 65% of whom seek care for mental distress, 'may collapse under the strain.' To date, the government has not allocated a dedicated budget for post-trauma care, as reported by Israeli media.
The jailed soldiers say they were excluded from emotional processing workshops offered to their unit after intense combat operations. They warn that the lack of treatment could cause lasting psychological damage.
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