Before being arrested and detained in Israeli prisons, three 18-year-olds - Yuval Moav, Oryan Mueller, and Itamar Greenberg - explained to +972 Magazine why they chose imprisonment over participating in the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.
The three Israeli teenagers reported to the army’s Tel HaShomer recruitment center near Tel Aviv this week, where they announced their refusal to participate in mandatory military service. Their stance is derived from their protest against the occupation and what they describe as ongoing genocide in Gaza. Each of the refuseniks was tried and sentenced to an initial 30 days in military prison, with the possibility of their sentences being extended.
Since October 7, these are the latest refuseniks to publicly oppose the draft for political and moral reasons. Previously, Tal Mitnick, Ben Arad, and Sophia Orr were released after serving 185, 95, and 85 days in prison, respectively.
The new refuseniks, supported by the conscientious objector network Mesarvot, issued statements prior to their military court appearances.
Greenberg, who settled in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, initially saw enlistment as a pathway to integration into Israeli settler communities. However, he later realized that "the door into Israeli society goes through the oppression and killing of another people."
However, he told +972, “A just society cannot be built on gun barrels.”
Military conscription is a unifying cornerstone in Israeli society. It is hard to completely trust the IOF figures due to a lack of transparency, but its official numbers show that 69% of men and 56% of women are conscripted for service at 18.
The Israeli army is so ingrained in the fabric of the entity's settler communities. In "Israel", military service is considered a way into the settler communities, where jobs are advertised for post-army folks, where social clout is measured by what they describe as achievements in the military, and where casual conversations invariably drift to where someone served. The military serves as a gateway to a complete "Israeli identity", bridging all strata of the social hierarchy.
Meanwhile, an undercurrent of dissent exists most notably amid the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, which persists unabated, now extending over 10 months. The ongoing aggression has resulted in the killing of at least 40,000 Palestinians and has led to man-made starvation, with children among the most vulnerable victims.
In addition, recent reports and footage confirm that one Palestinian detainee was subjected to gang rape by 9 or 10 Israeli soldiers and endured severe torture, resulting in paralysis and hospitalization. According to an Israeli Army Radio report, the abuse occurred approximately three weeks ago at the Sde Teiman detention facility.
Addressing Palestinians, Moav said as quoted by +972 Magazine, “In my simple act, I want to stand in solidarity with you,” he said. “I also acknowledge that I do not represent the majority opinion in my society. But in my action, I hope to raise the voice of those of us waiting for the day we can build a joint future [and] a society based on peace and equality, not occupation and apartheid.”
On his part, Mueller highlighted how revenge fuels the cycle of violence, stating, “The war in Gaza represents the extreme way the State of Israel exploits the drive for revenge to further oppression and death in Israel-Palestine.” He emphasized that opposing the war alone is insufficient and that it is crucial to address the structural mechanisms that perpetuate it.
On Monday morning, as Moav received his sentence, several dozen people gathered outside the recruitment center to support the refuseniks. Meanwhile, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews held a vigorous protest at the same location, marking the first day of their required conscription following a recent landmark High Court ruling that ended a longstanding military exemption.
When asked about his decision to refuse military service, Mueller explained, "I was born in Tel Aviv, and all my political education began at home. I come from a family that is critical of the occupation and other political problems, but it was still a Zionist home and my whole family served in the army. There was an expectation that I would serve too. But then I learned and understood more, and when the war broke out [and I read] the testimonies that came out of Gaza, I realized that I had to refuse."
Mueller stressed that the brutality of the situation in Gaza shattered his belief that the occupation and the "state of Israel" are distinct entities, adding that the extensive destruction and loss of life in Gaza, coupled with the lack of attention and active concealment within "Israel", brought an end to that distinction for him.
When asked the same question, Greenberg told +972 Magazine, "After growing up in an ultra-Orthodox home, I went through processes of political and religious questioning. I left religion, and because I’ve been a very political person since I was young, this directed me toward justice, and I got to where I am today. I think the decision to refuse is a direct result of that."
Greenberg noted that while refusing military service is generally not a major issue in ultra-Orthodox families, his situation is distinct. His father, who served in the reserves for 25 years and continues to serve, has created a challenging environment at home.
On his part, Moav, from Kfar Netter, a moshav near Netanya, recounted growing up in what he called a left-wing family, though his household was less politically active. While his background played a role in shaping his views, it was his broader exposure to international perspectives that ultimately influenced his decision to refuse military service. He acknowledged a lack of understanding about the full context of the situation, feeling isolated as he began to question and seek answers. Although he was aware of other refuseniks, Moav initially felt alone in his stance. However, learning about the refuseniks and the Mesarvot network and seeing others who publicly challenged the system and faced repercussions helped him realize he was not alone and affirmed his alignment with their cause.
"If you ask me why I refuse today, the answer is, ultimately, because I refuse to participate in genocide. I’ve been met with violence [for my decision], but I keep going. The war has only strengthened my position," he stressed.
Greenberg, who is actively involved in solidarity work in the occupied West Bank, particularly in the village of Mukhmas—a community subjected to frequent settlers' violence backed by the Israeli occupation forces—stated that his direct involvement with Palestinians has profoundly influenced his perspective.
Being on the ground in the West Bank has shifted his understanding from theoretical knowledge to a tangible connection with the occupation and its impacts. Although he does not personally endure the oppression, his close relationships with those who face daily challenges have left a lasting impression. The vivid experiences he has witnessed continue to affect him deeply, even when he is not physically present in those areas.
"Being present in the West Bank changes perceptions, makes you familiar with the occupation and oppression, and turns you from a listener into a physical partner in the experience," he told +972 Magazine.
On his account, Mueller noted that while he has not personally experienced the situation in Gaza, he has engaged extensively with online testimonies and political discussions about the war. He observed a significant disconnect between the realities reported from Gaza and the perception of most Israelis, who are kept in the dark about the situation just a few kilometers away.
Mueller expressed frustration over the lack of coverage of Gaza’s destruction and oppression in Israeli media and emphasized the necessity of discussing these issues. He pointed out that continuous exposure to harrowing images and reports, such as those depicting severe injuries among children, makes it increasingly clear that something is fundamentally wrong.
"There’s a limit to how many [videos of] children without arms you can watch until you realize something is wrong," he stressed.
Moav highlighted that his journey was deeply personal, driven primarily by the insularity of Israeli settler communities. He revealed that his decision to refuse military service was largely influenced by exposure to international perspectives. Moav noted that the average Israeli often has less awareness of local events, even those occurring just a few kilometers away, compared to those with access to global information.
When +972 magazine asked if he views his refusal as an attempt to influence Israeli communities, particularly in a climate where anti-war voices are often dismissed, Greenberg responded, “I think this is an important message to Israeli society: to start saying no. I urge my peers to think about what they are doing. Enlistment is a political choice, and that’s how it should be treated. We have the right to choose what we believe in.”
Meanwhile, Mueller views his refusal as a means of reflecting back to "Israeli society the possibility of resisting the militaristic death machine and the cycle of bloodshed."
He sees it as an opportunity to demonstrate that participation in this cycle is not mandatory. Additionally, he believes his stance serves as a platform to expose the realities of Gaza and the West Bank, which are often obscured or underrepresented in the media.
"There is the bigger picture of the conflict and the occupation, as a whole historical process, but there is also the immediate struggle of war and of death that needs to be stopped. And the most practical way to participate in this struggle is refusal," he told +972 magazine.
Reflecting on the same concept, Moav stressed, "I also hope that it will reach the world, because in the end people from all over the world see the horrors that are happening in Gaza."
When questioned about the significance of his refusal occurring during wartime, Greenberg acknowledged the unique context of his decision. He noted that while refusal during a war can be seen as a privilege, it also represents a powerful stance against the ongoing war.
Furthermore, Mueller expressed that if his refusal could deter even one Israeli from participating in the war on Gaza, it would be worthwhile. He emphasized the importance of supporting the fight against the occupation and highlighted that during wartime, his stance becomes even more radical as it challenges the prevailing sentiment in Israeli society. He stressed that instead of focusing on memorializing the dead, efforts should be directed towards preventing further loss of life.
"If I can prevent one Israeli from going to Gaza, from killing and dying, then that’s worth it. And of course, we want to support and promote the struggle against the occupation. The change that the Israeli consciousness undergoes quite extensively during wartime turns our refusal into something even more fringe than it was in the past," he tersely stated.
On his part, Moav emphasized that his refusal to participate in what he sees as genocide is the most important message he wants to convey. He acknowledged the privilege of his position, admitting that he doesn't go to jail with a clear conscience because he's unsure if he's doing enough or fully understanding his responsibility in the situation.
"At the end of the day, what is most important for me to say is that I refuse to participate in genocide," he stressed.
Read more: 'I know what we did in Gaza': IOF reservist refusing to rejoin service