The Israeli Army is expanding its offensive in the Gaza Strip Again. For this, it has called up tens of thousands or reservists, and active reservists have to continuous fighting longer. But Motivation is declining among the group that is committed part-time. The Army is Therefore Considering Foreign Recruits.
For the upcoming offensive, which Mainly Revolves around the capture of Gaza City, The Israeli Army Has Called Up 60,000 reservists. Being Extended in Addition, The Service of At Least 20,000 reservists who are already fighting. In Total, The Number of Reservists Should Be Approximately 130,000.
But accordance to Israeli media, it is Questionable Whether the Army Will Reach These Numbers. Broadcaster can and the Jerusalem post write that on average about 60 to 70 percent of the reservists show up. Shortly After The Hamas Attack on October 7, 2023, More Reservists Showed Up Than Were Called Up.
Accordance to Israeli Media, there are a number of reasons for the decreased turnout. Reservists are said to be dissatisfied with the course of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Government with Regard to the War. In Addition, Many Reservists have already leg Called up Several Times. That takes a toll on their home situation, reports the jerusalem post .
There is also dissatisfaction with the fact that ultra-orthodox jews still escape the dance and do not have to serve. Legislation is Indeed Being Drafted to Regulate this, but that process is meeting with a lot of resistance from Ultra Orthodox Parties in Parliament. Furthermore, there are increasing groups about the mental health of reservists, Write the Times of Israel and Haaretz .
To Maintain the Strength of the Armed Forces, The Army is now Said to Be Considering Active Recruiting Abroad. The Jerusalem Post Reports This, Among Other Things, Based on Israeli Army Radio. The Army Leadership would like to Recruit Around Six to Seven Hundred New Soldiers Every Year in Countries with Large Jewish Communities, particularly from the United States and France.
There are already programs for Jewish Youth Abroad to Temporarily Serve in the Israeli Army, Including Mahal. Through This Program, Foreigners Can Make A Contribution Without Formally Emigrating to Israel. There are currently around five hundred soldiers from Abroad Active.
It is not Known Whether there are currently any Dutch People affiliated with the Israeli Army, Says Naomi Mestrum, Director of the Center for Information and Documentation Israel. There is Only Anecdotal Evidence that Dutch People Have Been Active in Israel in the recently fits. “The Netherlands Has Only a Small Jewish Community and Therefore a Limited Number of Young People who Could Serve,” Says Mestrum.
It is also not known how many Dutch people are registered as reservists. It is unlikely that envelopes with a request to serve in the Israeli Army Will Fall on the Mat in the Netherlands or Elsewhere Abroad. “You have to be retrained every year to recurreive a call,” Says Mestrum. “That Doessn’t Apply to Many Foreign Reservists.”