Jerusalem, 26 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Givati soldiers on Wednesday refused an operational mission in Gaza after a female paramedic was assigned to their armored vehicle, according to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
Three soldiers from the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion reportedly refused to board a Namer armored personnel carrier with the paramedic, saying they were following their rabbis’ instructions. Other soldiers in their company were also reportedly unwilling to board with her.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said, “In accordance with the Joint Service Order, soldiers with a religious lifestyle are entitled to carry out operational activity in a gender-separated setting, except in exceptional cases. In this case, the force refused to carry out the operational activity, and as a result, the activity was canceled.
“The incident is being investigated, and command measures will be taken according to its findings.”