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Published 30 Dec, 2023 02:10pm

Israeli teen jailed for refusing to serve in IDF over opposition to war in Gaza

A handful of young people in Israel are refusing mandatory military service in the Israel Defence Forces on political grounds, in opposition to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and the occupation of Palestinian territories, CBC reports.

Israeli teen Tal Mitnick, 18, was the first person arrested for refusing service on political grounds since Oct 7 and was sentenced to 30 days in military prison on Tuesday. He first refused to enlist several weeks ago, setting in motion a trial process.

Mitnick wrote his reasons in a statement shared Tuesday by Mesarvot, one of several Israeli support groups for conscientious objectors, or “refuseniks” as they call themselves.

“Violence cannot solve the situation, neither by Hamas, nor by Israel. There is no military solution to a political problem,” Mitnick wrote. “Therefore, I refuse to enlist in an army that believes that the real problem can be ignored, under a government that only continues the bereavement and pain.”

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