Israel's Army on the Edge: Mass Desertions, PTSD, and Open Rebellion

The phenomenon of Israeli reservists refusing to serve began with internal unrest following Netanyahu's return to power, and especially escalated with the controversial “judicial reform” plan proposed by his government. Even before the outbreak of the 2023 Gaza war, amid growing tensions over this judicial overhaul, some 200 Israeli Air Force reservist pilots announced they would boycott weekly military drills. In their view, the reforms amounted to a judicial coup orchestrated by Netanyahu’s cabinet. This act of defiance soon spread, sparking broader protests and disobedience within the ranks of the Israeli military.

However, with the eruption of the Gaza war, the situation took on far more serious dimensions. Experts and officials within the Israeli regime have since repeatedly described the crisis as grave and unprecedented. The war, which began on October 7, 2023, has deeply impacted the Israeli military, bringing immense psychological, societal, and strategic strain. It has led to increased desertions, discontent, psychological disorders, disobedience, and a notable decline in morale among Israeli forces.

Contrary to its stated goals, the Israeli regime has achieved nothing of significance after nearly two years of warfare in Gaza. Now more than ever, it finds itself entangled in internal discord—particularly within the military structure. According to opposition voices, this war has yielded no strategic benefit for Israel and has instead resulted in successive defeats, international isolation, economic damage, and social unrest. And yet, it is Netanyahu and his inner circle who seem determined to prolong the war, clinging to it as a lifeline to avoid political collapse.

Renewed military operations in Gaza following Israel’s breach of a ceasefire agreement have sparked fierce backlash, especially among Israeli settlers and Netanyahu's critics. Within the military and security establishment itself, voices opposing a return to war have grown louder, creating a serious crisis for Israeli commanders and political leaders.

One of the most pressing challenges the regime faces is the increasing number of reservists refusing to report for duty—individuals who categorically reject stepping onto the battlefield in Gaza. This pattern, present from the early stages of the war, has only worsened over time. At the onset of hostilities, the Israeli army issued a public statement announcing harsher penalties for desertion under the so-called “Operation Iron Swords.” The announcement declared that starting December 1—roughly two months into the war—deserters who failed to report to their units would face intensified punishment.

Beyond desertion, the Israeli military now faces a deeper crisis of widespread disobedience and refusal by reservists to reengage in the Gaza conflict. The prolonged and grinding nature of the war—with no clear strategic horizon—has drained morale and motivation among reservists. Many now seek any excuse to avoid being recalled to service.

The Hebrew-language daily Haaretz reported that the Israeli army, while planning a new escalation in Gaza involving tens of thousands of reservists, has sounded alarm bells over the growing crisis within its reserve forces. After breaching the ceasefire and returning to full-scale combat, the military noted a significant drop in reservist motivation. In recent days, many reservists have openly informed their commanders that they will not report for duty if recalled. The army believes the extent of the phenomenon is far greater than publicly known, partly because many reservists have yet to formally voice their refusal and are simply waiting to be called up before making their stance clear.

A reservist officer interviewed by Haaretz emphasized that both troops and commanders have experienced severe burnout after spending hundreds of days in reserve duty over the past year. According to him, their reluctance is not solely political—it stems from pure exhaustion. He noted that the fatigue is causing serious tension within units, even sparking conflicts that did not exist at the start of the war. “Many people would rather buy a cheap plane ticket to a random destination,” he said, “just so they can claim they can’t join a scheduled tour.”

He further criticized the Israeli military leadership for failing to grasp the heavy toll placed on reservists. Ignoring this reality, he warned, would only exacerbate the crisis, as soldiers simply will not report for duty.

In some cases, this disobedience has escalated into outright defiance. In recent weeks, groups of reservists have sent multiple letters to Israeli officials threatening to resign and openly disobey orders. This prompted a furious reaction from Prime Minister Netanyahu, who lashed out at the wave of internal protests against the war in Gaza. He claimed the letters—signed by objecting officers and soldiers—were not genuinely authored by them but rather fabricated by foreign-funded entities. He went on to threaten that anyone who encouraged military insubordination would be immediately expelled from the army. Netanyahu also used inflammatory language to describe the dissenters as “weeds,” accusing them of weakening Israel and its military while emboldening the enemy.

Yet desertion and defiance are not the only consequences the war has had on the Israeli military. In addition to physical and financial losses, Israeli soldiers are now grappling with serious psychological trauma. A study by Tel Aviv University found that 1 in 8 Israeli soldiers who participated in operations in Gaza suffer from PTSD and are unfit to return to service.

The study revealed that approximately 12% of reservists deployed in Gaza experienced severe PTSD symptoms. This has not only impaired their military capabilities but also created a significant challenge for the Israeli army, especially as the war drags on and regional tensions escalate.

The rise in desertion, dissatisfaction, psychological distress, and insubordination within the Israeli military has shifted the balance of power toward the resistance groups—particularly Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Employing asymmetric tactics such as rocket strikes and guerrilla warfare, these groups have maintained constant pressure on Israeli forces.

In conclusion, the surge in military desertions, morale breakdown, mental health crises, and growing defiance in the Israeli ranks—coupled with the prolonged psychological strain of an unwinnable war—has weakened the cohesion and effectiveness of Israel’s military forces. This internal collapse has not only eroded the regime’s strategic standing but also shifted the battlefield balance, making Israel more vulnerable to its adversaries. Under mounting international and economic pressure, the regime now faces unprecedented challenges, with even Hebrew-speaking analysts admitting that the war can only lead to further, heavier defeats.

Translated by Ashraf Hemmati from the original Persian article written by Elias Mahdavi