"Dismissed via Zoom": IDF Suspends 450 Soldiers Following 2 Reservists who Assaulted a CNN Reporter
Chief of Staff issues unprecedented collective punishment after soldiers allegedly choked a photographer and cited "religious revenge" during a West Bank clash.
An international scandal has led to the unprecedented suspension of Battalion 941 (Netzach Yisrael), a reserve unit composed of Netzach Yehuda veterans. The move follows a viral confrontation near the village of Tayasir, where an American CNN crew was filming an illegal settler takeover of land.
Footage shows soldiers assaulting the crew, pointing weapons at journalists, and one soldier placing a photographer in a chokehold while damaging their equipment.
During the incident, soldiers reportedly told the journalists that "all of Judea and Samaria belongs to Jews" and explicitly stated they were seeking revenge for the recent murder of Yehuda Sherman.
In a move described as a "shock to the system," the entire battalion of approximately 450 soldiers was informed of their suspension during a group Zoom call.
Sources indicate the instruction came directly from the IDF Chief of Staff, intended to serve as a harsh deterrent against similar conduct in the ranks.
The soldiers were given exactly 24 hours to pack their belongings and leave their posts, with the suspension lasting at least through the Passover holiday.
"They Spit on Us": Soldier Outcry
The decision has ignited a firestorm of resentment among the reservists, who view the move as a betrayal after years of service.
Officers in the battalion slammed the decision, arguing that the actions of a few individuals should not result in the dismissal of an entire 450-man unit.
One officer told ynet, "They know how to call us up five times in two years when they need us, and then they spit on you and throw you out".
Soldiers questioned the logic of drafting Haredi populations if existing religious reserve units are treated with such "offensive" collective measures.