IDF Defends Rest & Recreation Day for Non-Combat Soldiers in Gaza Amid Criticism
The R&R day included a Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony and other leisure activities designed to provide a brief respite for soldiers who support the division. The event took place at a newly established base that includes a special R&R complex for personnel working in the region, according to Israel national news reports.
However, the decision to bring non-combat soldiers to the base has been met with concerns. Officers from the Southern Command questioned the necessity of the event, especially given the risks involved. “The intention was good, but they put dozens of soldiers in danger for no reason,” one officer remarked. The journey to the base, which stretches several kilometers through potentially hazardous territory, could expose the soldiers to rocket attacks, mortars, and ambushes. Despite having secured the area, officers expressed concern about the operational risks involved in such an event.
The IDF, however, has supported the decision to host the R&R day, stating that some of the soldiers attending were already regularly deployed in Gaza as part of their mission. The intention behind the event was to recognize their hard work and provide them with a break.
In a statement, an IDF spokesperson clarified, “The reservists of the 162nd Division logistics department, which constantly operates in the Gaza Strip, carried out an R&R activity in the Forward Logistics Base, just like other units that visit the complex. The event coincided with Hanukkah, which is why the soldiers participated in a candle-lighting ceremony. Their entry was approved by the relevant authorities and through the accepted channels.”
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