According to reports, some rebel soldiers are returning to their base, and a roll call will be held shortly to obtain a clearer picture of the situation.
The incident at the Sde Teiman base unfolded Thursday afternoon when dozens of Givati Brigade soldiers left the base in protest against their commanding officers. Messages circulating on social media showed soldiers singing as they departed. The events drew attention from Arab media outlets, which covered the confrontation with excitement.
At 15:22, the Times of Israel reported "mass desertion" at the base. The soldier who led the protest told C14 that the confrontation began when the battalion commander broke signs the fighters had prepared. The commander issued an ultimatum, prompting the soldiers to return equipment to the armory and leave the base. The battalion commander also sent a message to parents demanding soldiers return by 16:00 or face consequences.
By 16:15, a roll call was scheduled for 16:30 to check how many soldiers were absent. According to a Ynet report, the Givati Brigade announced the roll call. At 16:40, Yediotnews25 reported that a group of soldiers had returned to base in the previous minutes, and a roll call was about to begin. A senior military official told Ynet at 16:47 that there was a high rate of return and many soldiers had already returned, with a roll call to be held shortly to obtain a full picture of the numbers.
As of 16:51, additional reports indicated that some of the rebel soldiers were returning, and the roll call was expected soon. The IDF has not yet released an official statement on the number of soldiers involved or the disciplinary measures that will be taken. The Zioneer reported earlier that reserve Colonel Yoni Shtabon condemned the soldiers' actions, calling them a "disgrace." A bulletin at 16:32 noted that a senior official described the incident as a "serious disciplinary incident."
10 developments
- DevelopingReserve battalion in Gaza reports order to release volunteer soldiers, questions troop shortage claims
- StrongIranians reportedly returning to routine in apparent shift
- DevelopingIRGC soldiers claim chaos, evacuation of all bases
- DevelopingAnother round of talks expected in coming days, sources say
Source and signal
- Open-source intake