IDF Reservists with PTSD Petition Supreme Court Against Service Freeze
A group of 117 IDF reservists with PTSD petitioned the Supreme Court on Thursday against an army policy freezing their military service and transferring them off active duty.
A group of 117 IDF reservists suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder petitioned the Supreme Court on Thursday against an army policy freezing their military service. The petitioners, recognized by the Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Department with psychological disabilities of 30% or higher, were placed against their will on a track re-evaluating their fitness despite having served hundreds of reserve days since the war began.
Under the policy, established in July 2025 and updated in July 2026, recognition of PTSD automatically transfers soldiers to a suspension or exemption track without individual medical examinations. The petitioners argue this constitutes discriminatory action based on stigma, shifting the burden of proof to them. For many, active service remains a crucial part of their rehabilitation and identity.
The petition also alleges that the Rehabilitation Department transferred the names and data of some 2,800 service members to the IDF without consent or legal authority, prompting dozens of soldiers to abandon recognition proceedings to avoid removal from their units.
