Three soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been dismissed from combat duty and sentenced to military prison after refusing to return to the Gaza Strip, citing severe psychological distress and a “deep internal crisis” following months of combat.

The soldiers, members of the Nahal Brigade’s 931st Battalion, were declared mentally fit for combat by military health officers but maintained their refusal, leading to sentences of 7 to 12 days in prison. A fourth soldier awaits disciplinary proceedings.

Their decision comes amid growing scrutiny of the IDF’s conduct in Gaza, where over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, and humanitarian centers have become flashpoints of violence.

According to UN reports, more than 1,000 civilians have been killed and 7,200 injured while attempting to access food at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution sites, which are backed by the U.S. and Israel.

Testimonies from Israeli soldiers published in local media describe these aid centers as “zones of extermination,” where troops allegedly receive orders to fire on unarmed civilians seeking food. Some soldiers claim they were instructed to use live ammunition and heavy weaponry, not crowd-control measures.

One reservist told The Media Line that the situation at GHF sites had devolved into chaos, with stampedes, looting, and organized gang activity, and that soldiers were not trained to manage humanitarian crises, but were instead deployed in combat roles.

The IDF has denied deliberate targeting of civilians, stating that warning shots and non-lethal measures are used, and that any incidents are subject to internal review. However, mental health crises among troops are mounting. Over 10,000 soldiers are currently receiving psychological treatment, and 54 suicides have been reported since the war began.

Military psychologists have warned of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), moral injury, and burnout, particularly among young conscripts and reservists repeatedly deployed to Gaza.

The refusal by the Nahal Brigade soldiers has sparked debate over the ethical limits of obedience, the mental toll of prolonged warfare, and the legal implications of orders that may violate international humanitarian law.

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