IDF soldier was removed from office, punished after refusing to return and fight
The soldiers of the Nahar Brigade faced memories after refusing to order to return to Gaza due to a “deep internal crisis”.
Kan News reported on Sunday that four soldiers from the 931st Battalion of the Nahar Brigade told their commanders that they refused to participate in any further combat in the Gaza Strip.
The four soldiers were removed from office for refusing orders and three were tried in military court, sentenced to ranging from seven to 12 days. Fourth has not been tried yet.
The soldiers all went through multiple rounds of battle in Gaza and lost friends in the war. One of the four was injured at the Gaza border in 2024 and returned to voluntary battle after recovery.
One of their mothers told Kan: “These things will be deeply engraved in their souls.”
According to Kan, the four announced that they refused to fight from a “deep internal crisis”, which was not fear. Nevertheless, the group claimed they were immediately imprisoned rather than receiving treatment.
IDF Nahal Brigade soldiers saluted to them at the end of the mission ceremony (credit: IDF spokesperson department)
“Three soldiers from the Nahar Brigade refused to participate in the battle in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF responded to the incident.
“It should be noted that the soldiers were seen by a mental health officer (Kaban) who determined they were suitable for combat. After the disciplinary process, the soldiers remained denied and were therefore sentenced to imprisonment in a military prison.”
“This matter is handled with sensitivity and regulations. The IDF believes that the order is very serious, especially during the war, and will continue to maintain discipline.”
Other soldiers refused orders
This is not the first time that a soldier has refused to order to resume fighting in Gaza, nor is it the first time that the IDF seems to have ignored the mental health of its soldiers.
Earlier this month, a KFIR soldier who worked in Gaza repeatedly asked to see a mental health official but was denied even after threatening to commit suicide multiple times. He allowed access only after his fellow countrymen brought the severity of the situation to the attention of people.
In May, other Nahal soldiers were sentenced to moratoriums after demanding for post-line positions because they were “tired of continuous fighting.” Vala.
Other soldiers were driven by anger, accusing the government of the need to take the rest of the hostages home. In October last year, about 140 soldiers signed a letter saying they refused to continue their service if the government did not propose a hostage deal.
Recently, in May 2025, Captain Res. Ron Feiner was sentenced to a 20-day military prison sentence after refusing to return to the reserve after nearly three hundred days of service. Feiner cited moral obligations related to war and government handling of hostage rescue.
“I am shocked by the endless war in Gaza, the abandonment of hostages and the ongoing death of innocent people,” Fener said in a statement after the sentence. “I cannot continue to serve morally as long as this does not change.”
