The Israel Defense Forces confirmed it is investigating an unusual incident that occurred overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, in which three reservists from the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade refused to carry out an operational mission after learning a female paramedic would be traveling in their armored personnel carrier.
The planned operation, which included a patrol in Gaza, was canceled following the refusal. An IDF spokesperson stated that "a force from the Rotem Battalion, operating in the Gaza Strip, was tasked overnight with carrying out an operational activity that included a combat patrol requiring the use of an armored personnel carrier. In accordance with the Joint Service Order, soldiers who maintain a religious lifestyle are entitled to conduct operational activities in a gender-separate framework, except in exceptional cases."
According to the spokesperson, the force refused to carry out the mission under the circumstances, leading to its cancellation. "The incident is under investigation, and appropriate command measures will be taken based on its findings," the IDF said.
