IDF to discipline Givati soldiers who refused to board APC with female paramedic

Soldiers from the Givati Brigade's Rotem Battalion refused to board an armored personnel carrier with a female paramedic on Wednesday and are expected to face disciplinary proceedings over the incident.

The incident was brought to the attention of commanders in the battalion, who decided that the soldiers would be tried in a disciplinary hearing. The IDF said that they had not yet faced proceedings.

In June, amid the public and legal debate surrounding the integration of women into combat roles, the IDF issued a clarification stating that the High Court of Justice had not ordered the recruitment of female combat soldiers to the Armored Corps, but had only instructed the military to conduct a pilot program on the issue.

The IDF stressed that the pilot was intended as a preliminary examination of the possibility and that the trial did not commit to fully integrating women into such roles.

"After approximately two and a half years of fighting on multiple fronts and an expansion of missions, the IDF needs every male and female combat soldier," the military said in its statement at the time.

IDF begins to integrate women in combat 

After the announcement that the pilot would take place, hesder yeshivas said they would stop sending their students for enlistment.

Shortly afterward, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir addressed the issue at a conference of the IDF Employees Organization, referring to a letter issued by rabbis affiliated with the hesder yeshivas.

"The IDF is the people's army, and therefore there is paramount importance in integrating all sectors of the population into its ranks, especially in the combat array," Zamir said, emphasizing what he described as the army's unique character.

In his remarks, Zamir focused on the logistical and social challenges involved in such integration.

"This complex integration of women in the military will always be carried out in a manner that allows one sector of the public to serve alongside another, and not at its expense," he said.

Several days later, during a discussion on preparations for the pilot program, the chief of staff stressed that there was no intention to place men and women together in tank crews, either during training or during operational missions.

"If the trial is successful, the integration of women will be carried out within a designated framework, at least at the company level," Zamir said.

According to Zamir, adjustments would be required when operating as part of a combat team, in accordance with the IDF's Joint Service Order.