Major crisis in the Israeli army! 'Completely banned' - Milliyet

Milliyet AppUygulamayı AçWebWeb'de Devam Et ENMajor crisis in the Israeli army! 'Completely banned'NewsMajor Crisis İn The Israeli Army! 'Completely Banned'Major crisis in the Israeli army! 'Completely banned'18.09.2026 - 23:10 | Last Updated: 18.09.2026 - 23:10

According to a report in the Israeli newspaper "Maariv," military commanders and soldiers clashed over the cancellation of discharges and leave.

Soldiers expecting to be discharged in December said their commanders informed them that they would not be able to take their discharge leave.

Military officials speaking to the newspaper stated that the decision to prohibit soldiers from using the leave they had accumulated over the past two years was made by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Major General Itzik Cohen, head of the General Staff Operations Directorate.

The officials noted that the decision was made due to a shortage of soldiers in the army and Israel’s continued attacks in the region. Meanwhile, it was reported that some high-ranking officers within the army have voiced objections, claiming the decision was made in violation of the law.

Israeli Army Spokesperson Effie Defrin had emphasized that there was a personnel shortage of between 12,000 and 15,000 soldiers in the army and that this situation was no longer sustainable. Israeli Chief of Staff Zamir, in a statement on March 26, noted that the military was in the midst of a major personnel crisis, saying, “If we do not find a solution to the personnel crisis, the military will collapse.”