'Israeli' army chief warns Netanyahu of severe troop shortages
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- 'Israeli' Chief of Staff warns Netanyahu of severe troop shortages threatening military readiness.
- Proposal to extend mandatory service for men to 36 months amid ongoing war in Gaza.
'Israeli' Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, has warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz of a critical shortage of soldiers that is straining the military, according to 'Israeli' Channel 12.
Zamir reportedly sent a strongly worded letter last week to Netanyahu, Katz, and the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee chairman Boaz Bismuth, saying the “sharp shortage of fighters threatens the army’s operational efficiency.”
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“The security reality over the past two years has created unprecedented challenges and left wide-ranging effects on the army’s human resources,” Zamir said, urging an extension of mandatory service for men from 32 to 36 months.
Casualties and Operational Strain
Official 'Israeli' military figures show that since October 7, 2023, a total of 923 soldiers and officers have been killed and 6,419 wounded during 'Israel’s' ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.
Former 'Israeli' Prime Minister Naftali Bennett criticized the government over Zamir’s warning, saying, “The Chief of Staff is raising the alarm and waving the danger flag.” Bennett also condemned a proposed law exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) from military service, calling it a “threat to 'Israel’s' security and army readiness.”
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Haredim make up about 13 percent of 'Israel’s' roughly 10 million population. Most avoid military service to focus on religious studies, arguing that integration into secular society threatens their religious identity. Many have historically used repeated deferments until reaching the current exemption age of 26.
Context of the Gaza War
Zamir’s warning comes as 'Israel' continues its large-scale military operations in Gaza, ongoing since October 7, 2023. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 171,000 injured, the majority women and children, amid the ongoing 'Israeli' assault.
The military leadership’s concerns highlight the strain on 'Israel’s' forces after more than two years of high-intensity conflict and mounting casualties, raising questions about the sustainability of its operations and the impact of domestic policies on troop availability.
