Israel’s reserve crisis deepens amid Gaza plans

As the Israeli army prepares to intensify its attacks in Gaza, the crisis within its reserve forces, considered the “backbone of the army,” is growing.

According to a report in Haaretz, tens of thousands of reserve soldiers are expected to be recalled to duty as Israel prepares to escalate its operations in Gaza. However, army officials report that motivation is declining, and an increasing number of reservists are stating they will not report for duty. Officials indicate that the reasons for this drop in motivation include war fatigue, the lack of clear objectives for the ongoing conflict, and anger towards government policies.

A senior reserve commander informed Haaretz that brigade and battalion commanders are handling numerous cases involving reserve soldiers refusing to report for duty. The most frequently cited reason is the perception that the government is making insufficient efforts to rescue the hostages. This is followed by anger over the proposed law exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service and discontent regarding judicial reform plans.

Another reserve officer reported that soldiers and commanders suffer from severe burnout after serving hundreds of days over the past year. He expressed that they struggle to commit to new missions not only for political reasons but also due to physical and psychological fatigue.

Among those refusing service is combat pilot Alon Gur, who publicly announced his resignation last week after 16 years of service. Declaring his departure from the Air Force, Gur stated on social media, “The line has been crossed,” accusing the government of “prioritizing politics over human life.” After Gur was relieved of duty, other reserve soldiers began taking similar actions, causing significant concern within the army command.

According to Israeli army data, as of February, the reserve participation rate stood at 85%. At the start of the war, however, almost all called-up reservists reported for duty, marking the highest reserve mobilization in Israeli history.

Israel, with its relatively small population, relies on its reserve forces system to sustain the army during prolonged conflicts. This system, which involves recalling individuals who have returned to civilian life after compulsory military service back to active duty when needed, is considered one of the cornerstones of Israel’s security doctrine. This system allows tens of thousands of experienced soldiers to be rapidly deployed to the front lines during times of war or crisis.