The IDF's new "method" for reducing defense forces in Gaza envelope communities
Security officers in the Gaza envelope warn of a reduction in defense forces in communities adjacent to the fence. In one community attacked on October 7, only 12 fighters will remain on Sunday. "This is a real abandonment, they are taking the defense forces," said one of the heads of the authorities.
Security officers in the Gaza envelope communities claim that the IDF has begun implementing a new mechanism to reduce standby squads: any reservist recruited to the standby squads who goes on leave, for retraining, or due to illness cannot return to service, as the option to return them to recruitment has been blocked in the system.
In practice, those in the Gaza envelope claim this is a gradual erosion of the defense units, as the operational force shrinks day by day with no ability to fill the resulting personnel shortage. According to heads of local authorities in communities adjacent to the fence, within a few days there will not be an adequate response for the guarding and defense tasks in the communities.
In one of the Gaza envelope communities that was attacked by terrorists on October 7, only 12 members of the standby squad will remain on Sunday:
"We have 6 who are waiting to be recruited, but there is no authorization to recruit them back. There are those who can enlist in the local defense unit, but the personnel department has been stopping it for 10 days. The command center is closed, the gate is abandoned, and we are in the most difficult days of fog of the year, which raises fears of infiltration; this is a real abandonment. On one hand, they cannot guarantee us that there is no intention of a raid, on the other hand, they are taking away the defense forces."
Sources in the IDF explain that this is part of the general reduction of reservists and therefore, technically, until further notice, it is not possible to recruit reservists, including for the standby squads.
The heads of the Gaza envelope authorities and the "Future for the Envelope" movement sent an urgent letter this morning to Minister of Defense Israel Katz, demanding an immediate halt to the reduction of the standby squads:
"The security of the residents of the envelope is not a place for cuts. The lessons of October 7 are not learned through statements, but by guarding the first line of defense of the communities."
As part of the appeal, the heads of the authorities and the "Future for the Envelope" movement demand the immediate cessation of the planned reductions, the holding of a dialogue and consultation with the heads of the authorities before any change in the civil security system, and the assurance of permanent funding and readiness for the standby squads.
No response was received from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, and it will be published when received.
