Israeli Army Dismisses Officers for Withdrawing from Gaza Battlefield

Israeli forces dismissed two officers, including a commander, for withdrawing during an ambush by Palestinian fighters in the northern Gaza Strip.

This was reported by Tel Aviv-based Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on November 27. The soldiers complained that the army failed to provide them with support or air cover during the ambush by Qassam Brigades fighters, leading to the battalion's withdrawal. Approximately half of the unit's soldiers have not returned since the officers' dismissal.

The officers conceded that the unit was deployed under unfavorable conditions, having previously undertaken an extended mission in the Gaza Strip without adequate rest, as reported by the newspaper. This created a challenging atmosphere within the force, leading to its relocation near Ashkelon.

The incident has prompted the Israeli army to address a "crisis of confidence" in the unit, extracting lessons at all levels. The battalion faced additional serious events last month, including injuries and deaths in ground battles.

The military campaign in Gaza, initiated after a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The official Israeli death toll is 1,200, while Palestinian health authorities report at least 14,854 casualties, including 6,150 children and over 4,000 women.