Israeli reservist suspected of threatening mutiny in Gaza conflict

An Israeli reservist has sparked controversy and concern with a video threatening mutiny if the war on Gaza ends before achieving “complete victory”. The masked soldier, whose identity remains unknown, declared his refusal to obey orders from Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and called for the annihilation of Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

In the video posted on Friday, the suspected reservist claimed that he and “100,000 reservists” reject any plans to hand Gaza back to Palestinians, including the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, or any other “Arab entity”. He directly addressed Gallant, stating, “You can’t win this war. You can’t command us.” The soldier went on to warn that if the fight does not continue until victory, 100,000 reservists will remain on the fence and call on residents of Israel to come to Gaza under their protection.

The Israeli military has launched an investigation into the video, labeling the behavior as a “serious violation” of army orders and values, potentially constituting a criminal offense. An immediate command meeting has been called by the chief of staff to address the situation. While the military did not confirm the soldier’s identity, he was seen in an Israeli military uniform speaking from an abandoned building within Gaza.

The video was directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a clash with Gallant over the “post-war plan” for Gaza. Gallant had rejected the idea of indefinite Israeli governance over Gaza, advocating for civilian affairs to be managed by a Palestinian body. Netanyahu, however, has opposed involving the Palestine Authority in Gaza, raising concerns about the lack of post-war planning.

In the video, the soldier made it clear that they would only take orders from Netanyahu, not Gallant or the chief of staff. He emphasized the determination of reserve soldiers to win and expressed a desire to eliminate anyone who had harmed the people of Israel. The soldier’s remarks included a call for the destruction of those who had celebrated Israeli losses and mistreated soldiers in Gaza.

The video, shared by far-right journalist Yinon Magal and Netanyahu’s son, Yair Netanyahu, has drawn condemnation and raised legal concerns. The soldier’s statements, along with the distribution of the video, could potentially be considered sedition, punishable by up to five years in prison.

The situation has highlighted internal divisions within the Israeli military and government regarding the handling of the conflict in Gaza. As tensions escalate, the response from Israeli authorities and leaders will be crucial in addressing the concerns raised by the soldier’s threatening remarks.