In a somber development, Sgt. Agam Naim, a 20-year-old paramedic from Kibbutz Mishmarot, became the first female soldier to fall in combat in Gaza during Israel's ongoing Swords of Iron War. Naim, a paramedic in the 52nd Battalion of the Iron Tracks Brigade (401), died in a building explosion in Gaza alongside three IDF soldiers. She is survived by her parents and two sisters.

Staff Sgt. Dotan Shimon (21) from Elazar, Staff Sgt. Agam Naim (20) from Mishmarot, Staff Sgt. Amit Bakri (21) from Yoshivia, and Cpt. Daniel Mimon Toaff (23) from Moreshet were killed in action in Gaza yesterday.
▸Sgt. Bakari is the first female soldier to be killed… pic.twitter.com/hKrMMWzjR5

— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) September 18, 2024

Dorit, Agam's mother, recently shared her concerns about her daughter's service: "Agam was summoned for the paramedics course. We were overjoyed – maybe she'd become a doctor someday. Isn't that worth it? She graduated with honors and was assigned to the Armored Corps. Two days after finishing the course, she was already in Gaza with the Engineering Corps. We stopped breathing, stopped sleeping. Life changed; I suddenly experienced panic attacks that came without warning."

Dorit continued, "At home, it was manageable, but one day it happened at the kindergarten. Agam called to say she was going in. I wasn't prepared; she wasn't supposed to deploy for a few more days. It was a sharp pain, like a knife twisting in my heart, stomach, throughout my entire body."

"We choose to live in hope. May all our soldiers return safely, may the hostages come back soon – but very soon, may my own child return home, healthy in body and spirit. May the war end, and we return to normalcy. Amen. My Agami, I'm proud of you, child. I'm waiting for you, my love," Dorit concluded.

Yarin, Agam's sister, wrote in her eulogy: "My Agami, the most beautiful girl in kindergarten – the purest, smartest, most cheerful, most sociable, bravest, most excellent. The simplest of all. Before I left, we talked, and you promised to take care of yourself. But each time, you reminded us that if not you, there would be no one to do your job. No one to protect the soldiers and treat them. My hero, a true hero."

Yarin added, "You were the little sister in the family but always acted as if you were a decade ahead of everyone. We always laughed about how they mixed up our ages, and you were actually older than me. You had such an aura that everyone in the room would smile when you entered. Your smile was contagious. You were 20, and in three days, you were supposed to turn 21. And you'll always remain 20."

Mariel, Agam Naim's aunt, recounted with anguish: "Agam was a paramedic, assigned to an armored battalion after finishing her course. She graduated with honors, so they placed her at the forefront. For the past six months, she was in Gaza, sometimes with the Engineering Corps, sometimes with the Givati Brigade. The parents worried, of course – how could they not? Her father is a bereaved brother, so he worried twice as much. There were many concerns. She's a daughter, she's a child, she didn't have to go, but she really wanted to enter Gaza. She's the youngest – the youngest of three."

"She was the most beautiful, the happiest, the most talented. She volunteered with Magen David Adom, did a year of service, and worked with post-hospitalization youth. They took the most exceptional one," Mariel continued.

"The truth is, she wasn't supposed to return to Gaza. She was accepted to instruct in the paramedics course and was set to begin. Last weekend, she was home sick. The commander told her she didn't have to return and could stay home before starting her instruction role. She said she didn't want to leave without saying goodbye to her comrades. So she went in for just three more days. She entered on Monday."

The Paramedics Organization also paid tribute: "The Paramedics Organization mourns the fall in battle of Agam Naim, 20, from Mishmarot, a combat paramedic in the 52nd Battalion of the Armored Corps. Agam, one of the pioneers serving as a paramedic in a combat role, stood at the front lines of the battles in the Gaza Strip in a position requiring a unique combination of courage, dedication, and boundless professionalism. Agam was there to fight for the lives of her unit comrades, carrying an enormous responsibility to treat and save lives in the most challenging field conditions. Even today, almost a year into the war, we must remember that it is only thanks to our finest daughters and sons, fighters like Agam, who gave their lives, that the citizens of Israel sit safely in their land. May her soul be bound in the bond of life. May her memory be a blessing."

Mali Kaplan, principal of the Mevo'ot Iron educational institution where Agam studied, eulogized her: "Agam, a graduate of Mevo'ot Iron, excelled in every field she touched. She was an outstanding student, studied biology and computer science, and even completed a final project in social sciences. Agam was active in the boarding school and youth society of Mevo'ot Iron and was also a member and counselor in the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement."

Kaplan added, "Upon completing her studies, Agam received a social excellence certificate for her role as a counselor in Hashomer Hatzair. After graduation, Agam chose to do a year of service at 'Pnimiyat Adanim' in Beit Kama, working with youth discharged from hospitals. She aspired to be a paramedic and served in the 52nd Battalion, Iron Tracks Brigade, out of a desire to contribute as much as possible to society. Agam was always surrounded by friends, patient with everyone, and kind-hearted. We are in pain and mourning. This is a tremendous loss for the staff, students, and alumni of Mevo'ot Iron. We embrace and share in the sorrow of her parents, Dorit and Dudi, her sisters, and the entire family."

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In a heartfelt plea for intervention, Sarah Netanyahu, wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has joined forces with the mothers of five female Israeli soldiers currently held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Together, they have sent a letter to US First Lady Jill Biden, seeking her support in securing the release of their daughters.

Mrs. Sara Netanyahu sent a letter to @FLOTUS Jill Biden in which she asked her to work toward the immediate release of the Israeli hostages being held – as a crime against humanity – by Hamas in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/mYkzF0IjwP

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 15, 2023

 The letter, which included photographs of the captive soldiers, Agam Berger, Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, and Daniela Gilboa, was penned more than seven months after Netanyahu's previous correspondence with Biden. "Over seven months have passed since my last letter to you, which was written from one mother to another," Netanyahu wrote. "For these five mothers, who have become my sisters, time has stood still."

The prime minister's wife continued, "You have surely seen the videos, taken by the terrorists themselves when they abducted our girls. The terror in their eyes is palpable. We see them plead for their lives while sitting bound, barefoot, and wounded in blood-covered pajamas, having just witnessed the murder of their friends. It is a horrifying scene that we will never forget. Please join us in demanding that Hamas release these innocent girls immediately and unconditionally. You are best positioned to lead a coalition of women that calls for the girl's freedom."

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Against the backdrop of the Supreme Court's ruling on the conscription law, which stipulated that 3,000 ultra-Orthodox young men are expected to enlist in the IDF soon, the religious sector's young women don't need a court decision: This year, about 3,500 women have enlisted or are set to enlist – 10% of them, 350 women, will enter combat service, including about 20 graduates of religious women's seminaries. Sources familiar with the matter told Makor Rishon that the October 7 events led to a significant increase in the desire of women from the religious sector to enlist in the army in general and for combat service in particular.

Figures in the religious community, noting that nearly a third of young women enlisting for combat roles were joining the Border Police, approached the IDF and suggested opening a gender-segregated combat framework. The army agreed to the idea, and in recent weeks, plans for establishing a company have begun to take shape, with details gradually being finalized.

The gender-segregated company will be affiliated with the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps. Its staff will be composed entirely of women, and they will receive spiritual support and guidance. Rabbi Ohad Teharlev, head of Midreshet Lindenbaum, is advising and accompanying the company's establishment. It appears that a female halakhic authority will receive a reserve duty position to provide closer guidance to the combat soldiers, including two weekly lessons.

WOW! For the first time ever, women are joining Israel's elite Yahalom combat unit, taking on terror tunnels and demolitions! pic.twitter.com/kRlZyrPZFD

— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) April 18, 2024

 So far, about 30 pre-enlistment women have expressed interest in joining the company as early as the upcoming August recruitment cycle. The idea is to create a supportive framework that will neutralize the challenging halakhic and spiritual issues that arise in mixed-gender service.

Before enlistment, all women slated to join the new gender-segregated framework will attend a preparation day at the induction center, a kind of "religious assessment," involving the Meitav unit, the accompanying team, and the Military Rabbinate. Until then, one can join the company by contacting Meitav, and any young woman who identifies as religious is eligible to join.

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The IDF has seen an aberrant jump of 24% in the number of soldiers reporting sexual assault, as well as in increase in the number of complaints filed with the Military Police, according to a new report compiled by the chief of staff's advisor on gender issues obtained by Israel Hayom.

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The report, authored by Brig. Gen. Yifat Yerushalmi Tomer, states that in 2020 1,542 complaints about military sexual assault were filed, compared to 1,239 in 2019. The report notes that the increase in assault complaints in 2020 was "unusual, since in the past decade complaints have risen by an average of 11% each year, whereas 2020 saw double that, 24%. A similar rise was seen in 2018, which was attributed to the #MeToo social media campaign."

According to the report, the vast majority of alleged assailants in complaints filed in 2020 were men. Approximately half were soldiers on compulsory service, a third were officers and NCOs, and the rest were civilian employees of the IDF, reservists, contractors, or unnamed. Nearly half (48%) of the complaints entailed alleged physical assaults.

However, the report noted a slight decrease in the number of "serious" physical attacks, and an increase in the number of cases of reported voyeurism and complainants being filmed in barracks and in showers without consent, which were the basis of 41 complaints in 2020 compared to 20 the previous year.

As stated, the number of charges pressed with the Military Police or the Israel Police increased from 15% in 2019 to 17% in 2020. Approximately one-third of these reported incidents (480) were handled by IDF disciplinary measures. In eight cases, additional complaints were made against the same alleged attacker or harasser after he was disciplined. Over the course of 2020 25 civilian employees of the IDF were banned from bases and five others were called in for reprimands. Approximately half of complainants decided not to press charges.

In 2020, there were 27 reported incidents of relationships between officers and subordinates, which is prohibited under military regulations, compared to 23 in 2019.

Men comprised 14% of victims of alleged assaults, and the number of alleged attackers accused in more than one incident increased from 159 in 2019 to 178 in 2020.

However, the report noted that for the first time in a decade, the number of reports of soldiers being assaulted in civilian surroundings, compared to an average yearly increase in such reports of 12% since 2014.

IDF officials think that the increase in reports of assault and sexual harassment filed in 2020 is related to the collective societal trauma caused by the COVID crisis, citing enforced social distancing, lockdowns, soldiers not being allowed to leave bases for home visits, and eroded ties with sources of social support, all of which create the risk for sexualized behavior and attacks. The IDF also said that the extreme, ongoing stress of COVID increased the risk of mental illness, as well as exaggerating people's sense of vulnerability.

The IDF Spokesman said in response to the report that "The IDF takes any sexual assault seriously and is working to eradicate this phenomenon from its ranks."

Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's Subcommittee on Personnel, Maj. Gen. (res.) Orna Barbivai, has asked to convene her subcommittee to ask IDF officials about how they are handling the increase in reported sexual harassment.

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For the first time in Israeli history, female combat intelligence soldiers have been deployed to the front line on the Lebanon border, which is currently Israel's most volatile one.

The soldiers are tasked with collecting precision intelligence via drones, a new capability for Israel's forces in that sector.

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Until now, the IDF has refrained from sending female soldiers to the Lebanese border. But approximately two months ago, the military decided to open the 869^th combat intelligence battalion, "Shachaf," to an all-female section that specializes in drone intelligence collection.

"We double the forces in the sector. No one in the area knows how to use drones, certainly not at our level, so we are considered forces in high demand," explains Lt. Nurit Rokach, commander of the new section.

An official in the IDF Northern Command confirmed that the drone section was a game-changer for the sector.

"The female soldiers are able to operate the new technologies in an outstanding manner, and we have absolute faith in them," the official said.

Meanwhile, the soldiers and officers know that they have broken a glass ceiling in terms of the public's perception of where women can be deployed, but among themselves, they say there is no difference between them and their male comrades.

"It's not something we think about on a daily basis," Rokach says, adding that "Both male and female combat intelligence soldiers provide the first response in real time, so we need to operate on two levels – to provide the intelligence, and also the first response in the field. No other fighting force has that capability."

The drone section is attached to the Adir Company, which has been operating on the Lebanese border for the past eight months.

Company commander Capt. Barak Choi says that "In the last two months, we've doubled our tools, with new and varied capabilities, including drones."

Choi says that the addition of the female soldiers has not adversely affected operations in any way. "It doesn't carry an operational cost. The opposite – the section meets an operational need."

Sgt. Keren Mor has been serving in this role for a year, and has been with the new section for a few months. She sees her deployment as a mission: "We do everything to become as familiar as we can with the territory and the enemy – and provide the highest-level solution to the demands in the field."

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