A young chareidi man who had been classified as a deserter for the past two years recently showed up at an IDF draft office seeking to enlist, but instead of being inducted, the IDF placed him under arrest and sent him to a military prison.
According to a report by journalist Yinon Shalom Yitach for i24news, the young man comes from a community where the idea of joining the IDF is virtually unimaginable. Nevertheless, when he voluntarily presented himself at the draft office in an attempt to enlist, the IDF refused to immediately process his induction and insisted that standard procedures be followed.
For now, the young man has been serving his sentence in a military prison for nearly a week and is expected to remain in detention for at least another 12 days before his case is reviewed again.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed the details, stating: “The draft-age individual has been held in detention at the incarceration base since April 23, 2025, due to his unauthorized absence from military service for over 650 days. His detention has been extended by the District Military Court until May 4, 2025.”
The IDF further explained, “On April 24, 2025, at his request, he was referred for an evaluation to determine his suitability for integration into service and to assign him a medical profile. If he is found suitable, he will be released from custody under conditions that include a commitment to serve in the IDF. Should he meet the conditions for one year, he will avoid a criminal record and will not face additional imprisonment. The IDF encourages the return of deserters to military service and gives significant consideration to this in determining the appropriate course of action in each case.”
{Matzav.com Israel}