A senior military official: "Many have already returned to the base, we will soon have a full picture of the situation"

A senior military official: "Many have already returned to the base, we will soon have a full picture of the situation."

The dramatic event at the Sde Teyman base continues to occupy senior military officials. After it had already been addressed by a senior source, now a response has arrived from another senior official, who claimed that the end of the incident is approaching. According to the source's statement, many of the soldiers have already returned to the base and a full picture of the situation will soon be obtained:

"There is a high rate of return of the soldiers and many of them have already returned to the base. In the near future, a roll call will be held, during which we will be able to get a full picture of the situation and understand the exact numbers."

Shortly before this, another military source stated that this is a significant and serious incident that has no place in the IDF, while emphasizing that the fighters risked their lives in all combat sectors:

"All the fighters in the battalion, from the battalion commander to the last soldier, fought in the war and risked their lives in all combat sectors. Alongside this, this is a serious disciplinary incident that has no place in the IDF. As in combat events, so too in this event, it will be handled by the commanders with love and respect for the soldiers, and at the same time while setting high and uncompromising demands."

As mentioned, earlier today, dozens of fighters and commanders from the Tzabar Battalion of the Givati Brigade left the Sde Teyman base in the last few hours and went AWOL, after leaving their weapons behind. According to the details published, over 100 fighters were involved in the move. The decision was made after the battalion commander broke the "Pugim" in front of the fighters, the metal plates on which the moral slogans of the departments and companies appear.

Following the incident, the fighters and commanders decided to leave the base with their personal bags, without the military equipment and without the weapons, and drove back to their homes. According to the soldiers, the weapons were placed in a container in an orderly manner. Afterwards, the fighters from the Tzabar Battalion responded to the incident and provided their version of the unusual act.

The fighters stated in response:

"We are fighters who fought for a long time in Gaza and Lebanon. After we returned from Lebanon to Sde Teyman, we continued with the military routine. Every company has a container where the company's equipment is stored. Once in a while, a roll call is held on the containers by the battalion commander and the officers, to ensure that everything is in order."

It was further stated:

"Today, the battalion commander, the company commander, the deputy company commander, and another officer arrived to go over our company's containers. During the inspection, and without any justified reason, they took and broke signs that are part of our company's tradition. These are not just signs. These are symbols that have accompanied the company for years, passing from one generation of fighters to another, and going out with us even after months of fighting in Gaza and Lebanon. With them, we sing the company's songs, preserve our heritage, and connect to what the company represents. For us, they symbolize the spirit, the unity, and the strength to continue even in the most difficult moments."

The fighters concluded the letter as follows:

"When these symbols are broken, it is not just a piece of wood or a sign that is broken – something of the fighters' spirit is broken. After everything we have been through, the very small thing that gives us strength, pride, and a smile, is destroyed. Unfortunately, this is only a small part of the attitude and conduct that we experience from some of the officers towards the fighters. We cannot continue to be silent and give up even on the few things that give us the strength to continue. We will not be silent anymore."

Following the unusual protest event, the IDF worked to return the soldiers to the base. In a message sent to the company's fighters, it was stated that after a situation assessment in the battalion, it was decided to hold an orderly inspection of all soldiers at 16:00. According to the message, any fighter who does not return by this time will be immediately defined as AWOL. It was further clarified to the soldiers that in such a case, their names would be transferred to the Military Police and an AWOL procedure would be opened against them.