Israel short of troops after a year of conflict

(CLO) More than a year after the war in Gaza, Israeli forces have begun to be exhausted and understaffed, especially after opening a ground front in Lebanon as well as fighting with Iran, in the West Bank and Syria.

According to the Israeli military, about 300,000 reservists have been called up since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out in Gaza on October 7 last year, of which 18% are men over 40 and should have been exempted.

Military service is compulsory for both Israeli men and women from the age of 18, but there are some exemptions.

Israeli soldiers. Photo: AFP

Since Israel launched its ground offensive in Gaza on October 27 last year, it has lost 367 soldiers in the campaign, while 37 have been killed in Lebanon since Israel began its ground campaign there on September 30.

The service of reservists has been extended. “We are drowning,” reservist Ariel Seri-Levy said in a social media post that has been shared thousands of times. He said he had been called up four times since the October 7, 2023 attack. “We have to end this war because we are out of soldiers,” he said.

“In addition to being tired and mentally exhausted, I also lost my job,” said another reservist and father of two.

Many self-employed workers have had to close their shops because of the conflict, even as the government guarantees a minimum income to reservists. “The collective is more important than the individual, but the price is too high for my family,” said the reservist, who has spent nearly six months in Gaza this year.

The war sparked controversy over the conscription of radical Jews, many of whom were exempt from military service.

According to the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), ultraconservative Jews make up 14 percent of Israel's Jewish population. According to the military, about 66,000 people of military age are exempt.

About 2,000 wives of reservists have signed an open letter calling for "less burdens on those who are serving".

“It is an honor to serve my country and I will continue to do so as long as I can,” said David Zenou, a 52-year-old rabbi who has fought 250 days this year, including several weeks in Lebanon.

“Above all, let's not forget that this is war and we are short of soldiers,” said the father of seven and grandfather of six.

Ngoc Anh (according to AFP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tham-chien-nhieu-mat-tran-quan-doi-israel-bat-dau-kiet-suc-va-thieu-hut-luc-luong-post319487.html