At least seven IDF soldiers sent to military prison for refusing to board APC with female medic

Seven soldiers from the Givati Brigade's Rotem Battalion were sentenced to military prison on Sunday for refusing to board an armored personnel carrier (APC) with a female medic. Four soldiers received 10 days each, while three others received five days for aiding them. The incident occurred last Wednesday after an overnight drill, leading to the cancellation of the operational activity. The IDF stated that while religious soldiers are entitled to gender-segregated frameworks, this incident was an exception. This event follows a June announcement where Hesder yeshivas threatened to stop student enlistment due to a pilot program for female Armored Corps soldiers. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized the importance of integrating all sectors, stating, "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."