Jerusalem, 4 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Eleven of 16 Hesder soldiers from the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion who were sent to military prison for refusing to enter a Namer armored personnel carrier with a female paramedic are expected to be released Friday.
Hesder combines advanced Torah study with military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The soldiers said having a female paramedic inside the cramped Namer during combat operations violated the IDF’s Joint Service Order. The order allows religious soldiers to serve in a gender-segregated setting that respects their religious lifestyle, except in emergencies or other situations where this is not possible.
The military said the mission was urgent, was expected to last no more than two hours, and did not require a long stay inside the Namer. the Givati Brigade rabbi also approved the mission, but the soldiers chose to consult rabbis outside the military instead.