14 Israeli soldiers jailed for 30 days over mass desertion

Fourteen soldiers from the Tzabar Battalion of the Givati Brigade have been sentenced to 30 days in military prison following a mass desertion from a base in southern Israel. The soldiers had left their post on Thursday after their battalion commander destroyed a decorative sign they claimed was part of their unit's tradition.

The Israeli military confirmed the sentences on Saturday, stating that the commander of the Givati Brigade, Colonel Netanel Shamaka, also permanently dismissed the soldiers from combat duty. According to the military, the sign contained material intended to humiliate new recruits, a practice that has a history within the IDF's infantry.

Reports indicate that around 100 soldiers left their weapons and abandoned the Sde Teiman base. Online footage showed soldiers marching away from the base, directing insults at officers. The incident appears to stem from a combination of the dispute over the sign and alleged mistreatment by commanders, highlighting tensions within the military.

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Commander of the Givati Brigade, Colonel Netanel Shamaka, also permanently dismissed the soldiers from combat duty.