I won’t fight in this war on Gaza
JVL Introduction
Tal Mitnick, an 18-year-old Israeli, is refusing to serve in his country’s army as it wages what many are calling a genocidal war on Gaza.
He has been sentenced to 30-days in a military prison, a harsh sentence and likely to be repeated when he has served his time.
“I believe that slaughter cannot solve slaughter,” he said outside the military base where he went to refuse to serve: “The criminal attack on Gaza won’t solve the atrocious slaughter that Hamas executed. Violence won’t solve violence. And that is why I refuse.”
Ariel Davidov and Ella Keidal are two more refuseniks interviewed below, among 200 who signed a statement in August that “An army that militarily occupies another people is not an army that we can join.”
They are members of Mesarvot, a network of young Israelis who seek to create a better future for all by refusing to serve in the IDF. You can donate to support them here.
RK
This article was originally published by Common Dreams on Wed 27 Dec 2023. Read the original here.
Israeli teen jailed for refusing to take part in army's 'criminal attack' on Gaza
“I believe that slaughter cannot solve slaughter,” said 18-year-old Tal Mitnick, who was sentenced to 30 days behind bars for refusing to participate in what a fellow draft resister called a “genocide” in Gaza.
Loading article text…
Very brave of these young people to refuse to enlist in the army. There are huge pressures on young Jewish Israelis to join the Israeli army. And no doubt so much more pressure at present. Would be great if there were more refuseniks.
These are brave lads. It is good to hear of Israeli anger and resistance to the current fascistic actions of their government.
These young people are so brave and they don’t want to go out there and kill Palestinians. Let’s hope they give strength to others to follow their lead
I so agree with those who have posted their support for these brave youngsters, who show the World that decency still exists within the youth of Israel. If only the military censors allowed the full truth and effect of the blanket bombing, hospital and home attacks to be reported to the Israeli public, perhaps more would follow these, the real heroes. But then, this is why the reports are quashed, and local Palestinian press are ‘silenced’.