The Israeli occupation army has been striving for months to amend legislation to extend mandatory military service from 32 months to 36 months, aiming to increase the number of combatants and better organize force-building efforts.
According to a report by Yedioth Ahronoth, there is an urgent need to raise the reserve exemption age from 40 to 45 years. However, since extending the service period is tied to the conscription law, a legislative deadlock has left the military in a critical position due to severe personnel shortages. Simply put, “there aren’t enough people.”
New statistics released by the Israeli military reveal that since October 7, 2023, 794 soldiers have been killed, including 370 during ground operations in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, 5,346 soldiers have been injured (4,605 in Gaza), and the number of soldiers treated in emergency rooms has reached 11,944.
The newspaper notes that these figures are not presented merely for documentation but serve as a direct message to the Prime Minister, emphasizing the urgent and dire nature of the manpower crisis, which demands immediate action.
The report stresses that the issue extends beyond the recruitment of Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews). The deeper reality is that the military requires additional personnel across the board—whether in regular service, reserves, or permanent roles.
The report highlights a shortage of 7,500 soldiers, with the strain particularly affecting reserve forces. Many reservists are exhausted, while permanent-service staff, already struggling with a severe crisis before the war, now face even greater challenges due to insufficient support.
To address these shortages, the military has been pushing for months to extend mandatory service from 32 months to 36 months. This extension, it argues, would increase the number of combatants and improve the overall organization of its forces.
Regarding the Haredim, the report states that the military is navigating a politically chaotic landscape. While the annual target for recruiting 4,800 Haredi soldiers has been set, only 900 recruits have been enlisted out of a goal of 1,300 in the first third of the year. Plans are underway to issue 1,000 new draft orders as part of a broader initiative to recruit 7,000 Haredim, approved by former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Concurrently, the military is advancing the establishment of the “Hashmonayim Brigade,” a unit designed specifically for Haredim, by creating infrastructures and administrative frameworks tailored to their lifestyle. The military favors voluntary enlistment of Haredim, with the state expected to enforce penalties for non-compliance.
Nevertheless, these efforts alone will not resolve the personnel crisis. Additional reforms are necessary and must be based on societal consensus, the newspaper argues.
The report also points to the need for addressing exemptions granted to women, particularly for religious reasons. Half of the eligible female recruits do not participate in military service, which the military deems unacceptable. Similarly, the issue of psychological exemptions must be revisited to ensure broader participation in national duties.
The manpower shortage is also impacting operations in Lebanon, which are marked by high sensitivity. A limited number of reservists are available for these missions, owing to overwhelming pressure and no intention to expand operations beyond Hezbollah’s established launch sites.
The situation underscores a deepening personnel crisis that threatens the operational readiness and strategic capabilities of the Israeli military.
