More than 100 IDF soldiers and commanders desert, leave weapons behind

[Opinion. When soldiers can have solidarity and organise, wars cannot be fought. More deserters, please!]

More than 100 IDF soldiers go AWOL, leaving weapons behind

Soldiers and commanders from Givati Brigade's Tsavar Battalion left the base without authorization following a confrontation with the battalion commander. "Being absent without leave, going to prison, none of that matters," one soldier said.

Lidor Sultan and Mor ShpaierIsrael Hayom: 07-30-2026 

SOURCE: https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/07/30/more-than-100-idf-soldiers-go-awol-leaving-weapons-behind/

More than 100 soldiers and commanders from the IDF Givati Brigade's Tsavar Battalion left the Sde Teiman base without authorization, becoming absent without leave (AWOL), according to information obtained by Israel Hayom.

One commander at the scene was heard telling the soldiers: "Everyone here knows the consequences of what he is about to do. We are going together now, as a battalion. I am proud of every single person here for what he is doing right now. There are new soldiers here who do not know what the consequences are, but none of that matters. Being absent without leave, going to prison, none of that matters."

The IDF initially issued no official response to the incident.