As the war that began in Gaza in October 2023 approaches its third year, Israel’s military is facing shortages of personnel and military equipment. The situation has raised the possibility of suspending soldiers’ leave.
An assessment published by an Israeli newspaper on Friday said the personnel shortage could result in soldiers’ basic rights being violated and their leave being blocked.
Hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles damaged
Three years of fighting have worn down the Israeli military’s tanks and armored personnel carriers, with hundreds of vehicles damaged and the number of vehicles currently available failing to meet operational needs.
The same assessment also addressed the removal of Lt. Col. A, who was an intelligence officer in the Gaza Division in October 2023. Lt. Col. A was removed from the post on the grounds that the position carried command responsibility.
No funds found for 12 Apache helicopters
An Israeli television report said the military had lost its plan to purchase 12 Apache attack helicopters from U.S. company Boeing because of insufficient funds in the procurement budget.
The development came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to persuade opposition leader Yair Lapid to cooperate on increasing the military procurement budget at a routine meeting on Tuesday.
Israel’s military warned that if the requested additional funds were not provided soon, efforts to return tanks and armored personnel carriers damaged in the war to service could be halted. Some ammunition production lines could also be affected by the funding shortfall.
The military burden stretching from Gaza to Syria
Over the past three years, Israel’s military has taken part not only in the war it has waged in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, but also in other wars and military operations in the region. Israel has clashed with Lebanon and Iran and has continued its military operations in the occupied West Bank and Syria.
These conflicts have imposed significant human and financial costs on Israel’s military, while Israeli officials have imposed strict censorship on information about the casualties.
