- Dozens of soldiers from the Givati Brigade left the Sde Teiman military base while chanting angry slogans against officers, in protest of the battalion commander’s decision to remove signs and symbols they had placed inside the base.
- Soldiers from the Sabra Battalion of the Givati Brigade said the battalion commander removed the signs using a hammer, considering the move an insult to the battalion’s traditions passed down through generations.
- The Israeli army spokesperson confirmed that a number of soldiers from a combat battalion left the base without permission from their commanders following the decision to remove signs associated with the 'young and veteran' tradition.
- The incident is under investigation and being handled by commanders, noting that such conduct does not align with the values of the Israeli army.
- According to the IDF, the soldiers departed from the Sde Teiman base after the battalion commander ordered the removal and destruction of decorative signs that had been put up by members of the unit.
- The military said the signs contained material that allegedly humiliated rookie soldiers.
- Some of the soldiers defended the displays, saying the signs were part of our company’s tradition.
- The troops reportedly left the base without approval from their superiors and abandoned their weapons before departing.
- This is an incident that is inconsistent with the values of the IDF and with what is expected of its soldiers.
Dozens of soldiers from the Givati Brigade's Tzabar Battalion left the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel in protest of their battalion commander's decision to remove traditional signs. The soldiers, chanting slogans against their officers, viewed the removal as an insult to their heritage and traditions passed down through generations.1
The battalion commander reportedly used a hammer to destroy the signs, which symbolized the unit's sense of belonging and fighting spirit during operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Some soldiers defended the displays, stating they were “part of our company’s tradition.”7
The Israeli army confirmed that the soldiers left the base without authorization and abandoned their weapons. An army spokesperson noted that the incident is under investigation, emphasizing that such conduct does not align with the values of the Israeli army. The military stated that the signs allegedly contained material that humiliated rookie soldiers, leading to the commander's decision.48
This incident highlights ongoing tensions within the IDF regarding tradition and authority, as soldiers express their discontent over perceived disrespect to their unit's legacy. The military is taking the matter seriously, with commanders handling the investigation to ensure adherence to army values.
“The soldiers departed from the Sde Teiman base after the battalion commander ordered the removal of signs that symbolized their traditions. The Israeli army confirmed the incident is under investigation, emphasizing that such conduct does not align with the values expected of its soldiers.”
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