Israeli soldier refuses to participate in 'slaughter' of Palestinians, sentenced

According to Times of Israel, Mitnick, is the first to face arrest for refusing to join the Israeli army since Oct 7. Read More

Saturday December 30, 2023 1:52 PM, ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

[Mitnick’s arrest and the consequent sentencing has sparked outrage and protest. (Image posted by Mesarvot)]

Tel Aviv: In a major embarrassment for the Zionist regime in the Middle East, an Israeli soldier has refused to participate in its Gaza carnage citing political ground and categorically asserting that ‘violence’ and ‘slaughter’ aren’t solution to conflicts.

In a video message posted by Mesarvot - an organisation advocating against military service, on its X account, the 18-year-old Israeli soldier Tal Mitnick explained why he refused to join the Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza.

"I believe that slaughter cannot solve slaughter. The criminal attack on Gaza won't solve the atrocious slaughter that Hamas executed. Violence won't solve violence. And that is why I refuse”, Mitnick said.

"Revenge Campaign"

In his video message, Mitnick termed the Hamas attack on October 7 unprecedented. . He, however, criticised the Israeli war in Gaza as a "revenge campaign" against not only Hamas but all Palestinians, citing indiscriminate bombings and political persecution.

Mitnick asserted his refusal to believe that more violence would bring security, advocating for diplomacy, political efforts, and policy changes to prevent further destruction and loss of life on both sides.

Mitnick’s refusal to join the Israeli Occupation Army enraged the Zionist regime which arrested and sentenced him for 30 days in prison.

“Tal Mitnick, an activist in the Mesarvot network showed up today at Tel Hashomer base and was sentenced to 30 days in military prison”, the Israeli platform of “refusniks” said on X.

"Solidarity Protest"

According to Times of Israel, Mitnick, is the first to face arrest for such reasons since October 7.

Mitnick’s arrest and the consequent sentencing has sparked outrage and protest.

Israeli occupation forces are incurring heavy losses in Gaza, causing unprecedented mental agony on those on the ground, though the Zionist regime is publicly not acknowledging it.

The psychological toll on the Israeli soldiers fighting is so huge that one of them suffering Gaza nightmare opened fire on his own colleagues.

In a related development, two senior army officers were fired for fleeing from the battlefield in Gaza.

"Gaza Death Toll"

Israel has officially confirmed 168 soldiers are dead since start of the war in Gaza but it is silent on the actual figure of those injured. Unnamed Israeli officials however have claimed the casualty figures are at least ten times of the official claim.

Talking to Hebrew media, the Israeli defense officials have also said at least 5,000 soldiers, over 2,000 of them officially recognized by the Ministry of Defence as disabled, injured in the ongoing war with the Palestinians.

On the other hand, the Health Ministry in Palestine has said 21,507 civilians, over 70 per cent of the women and children, have been killed by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza.

In one of the deadliest attacks since Oct 7, at least 20 civilians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a residential building in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Thursday.

The United Nations in a report said 187 Palestinians were killed and 312 wounded in attacks by Israeli forces between Thursday and Friday afternoon.

Another 361 Palestinians, including 79 children, have been killed in the Occupied West Bank.

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