Photo: Courtesy of Mesarvot

A year after the horrific events of October 7, 2023, in Israel and Gaza, the war has escalated dramatically. An unfathomable 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, including 16,000 children, along with around 1,200 Israelis. Thousands more Palestinians are injured, and scores of hostages remain held in Gaza. Movements, funders, and governments continue to to call for an immediate cease-fire to stop enabling war crimes.

Amid the devastation, a small yet vocal group in Israel continues to oppose military action and violence, with some refusing to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Among them is 18-year-old Tal Matnik, a member of Karibu’s partner organization Mesarvot, which organizes young Israeli Anti-occupation activists to refuse their military service. Matnik recently became the first Israeli to refuse IDF enlistment following the events of October 7.

The following news story was featured on ABC News on September 12, 2024, and is embedded from ABC News’ YouTube channel.

Tal – one of many Israeli young people refusing to enlist in the military – released a full refusal statement from 2023, which can be found below:

“I refuse to believe that more violence will bring security. I refuse to take part in a war of revenge.”
– Tal Mitnick, an Israeli who refuses to enlist in the IDF, as part of his refusal statement

Mesarvot

A network of young refusniks in Israel fighting for a better future for everyone.