The reserve soldier suspected of appearing in a video circulating online over the weekend – in which he called on troops not to obey orders by the IDF chief of staff and the defense minister because they were supposedly too soft on the Palestinians – has been questioned by the military police, the IDF said.
In the footage, the suspect threatens Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, stating that if he does not retract his statements, reserve soldiers will only follow the orders of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because the former had been calling on the government to hand over power in the Gaza Strip to Palestinian Authority-related entities to counter Hamas. "Only the one who decides we need to win, only him we will follow. You wanted a military coup? We'll show you what real Jews winning looks like."
He further claimed that neither the defense minister nor the IDF chief of staff can command IDF combatants. "If we don't go until victory, a hundred thousand soldiers will remain on the fence. We'll call on the citizens of Israel to come to Gaza, and we'll listen to one leader (Netanyahu), not the defense minister or the chief of staff. Think very carefully about who you're planning to hand the keys over to after that."
After the video's release and circulation by his son Yair, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he "rejects outright any manifestation of refusal from anyone." The statements in the inflammatory video have raised concerns about potential insubordination within the military ranks, prompting a swift response from authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly.
In the video, the soldier passionately urged fellow servicemembers to defy orders from their superiors. The soldier's call for rebellion was met with shock and condemnation from military leaders, politicians, and citizens alike. While the specifics of the soldier's grievances remain unclear, the broader implications of such an act reverberate throughout the nation.
This incident is not the first time insubordination has surfaced within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Leaders have grappled with how to maintain discipline while respecting soldiers' rights to express dissent. Former Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon once expressed his dismay when a prominent political figure openly sanctioned disobedience within the ranks. The delicate balance between maintaining order and allowing space for dissent has always been a challenge.
The soldier's video has sparked intense debate across social media platforms, with citizens expressing a wide range of opinions. Some view the soldier as a courageous whistleblower, while others see the act as dangerous and destabilizing. As the investigation unfolds, Israelis grapple with questions about loyalty, authority, and the role of the military in a democratic society.
