'A Moral Obligation': Protesters Outside IDF Headquarters Call to Refuse Army Service Anti-war activists from Radical Bloc protested at Israel's military headquarters, challenging soldiers and calling for conscientious objection t
Haaretz srael News
'A Moral Obligation': Protesters Outside IDF Headquarters Call to Refuse Army Service
Anti-war activists from Radical Bloc protested at Israel's military headquarters, challenging soldiers and calling for conscientious objection to service. The demonstrators displayed images of Gaza and accused all military personnel, regardless of their role, of complicity in the 'mass murder'
Rachel Fink
Jan 6, 2025
Dozens of anti-war activists staged a protest in front of the main entrance to Israel's military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Monday morning, as soldiers were streaming into the complex to begin their work day.
The protestors held up posters depicting the suffering and destruction in Gaza and called for an end to war and wide-spread conscientious objection, as a "moral obligation."
The demonstration was organized by Tel Aviv's chapter of Radical Bloc, a left-wing grassroots organization, in protest of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza and the compulsory military service which has enabled Israel Defense Forces to keep troops there for over 15 months.
As soldiers arrived for their duties at IDF headquarters in the morning, they were met by dozens of activists, many holding posters showing injured and deceased Palestinians, casualties of the Israeli army, large crowds of Gazans pleading for food, and an image of Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, who was detained by the IDF. One protester's sign read, "Refuse to take part in the genocide."
In a statement posted to Radical Bloc's Instagram account, the group explained the purpose of their demonstration.
"Whether you're pulling the trigger, pressing the buttons, or making coffee at an office as long as you are wearing the uniform and serving the Zionist state," the statement read, "you are an accomplice in the mass murder, the horrendous torture, the suffering, and destruction of the lives of over two million people in Gaza."
One of the event's organizers, who identified herself only as L, said that the group intentionally decided to stage their protest in front of soldiers with office jobs as opposed to those on the front line.
"It is even easier for those who aren't fighting in Gaza to close their eyes to the atrocities being committed there," L stated. "They can avoid responsibility by saying to themselves, 'I just handle the budget' or 'I'm just creating the AI technology.' They aren't necessarily forced to confront the horrors of the war face to face."
Israeli youth from the Radical Bloc burn draft orders during an anti-government protest in Tel Aviv, in April 2023.
She continued, "For us, it was especially important to have these soldiers in particular understand that they are a part of the same war apparatus whether they are pulling the trigger or not."
Compared to other protests, she and fellow activists were actually surprised by the lack of violent responses. "I think it has a lot to do with where we were," she explained. "The complex is heavily guarded with lots of security personnel."
Other than a few soldiers who yelled back at them, most ignored their chants. "But it was more of a calculated indifference," L described. "I could see it was important for them that their _expression_ communicated a sort of bemused apathy."
Alongside drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the protestors also called for conscientious objection to Israel's compulsory military service which, according to L, she and fellow activists see as the only moral option.
"In Israel's mainstream, people are starting to recognize that this war has gotten us nowhere, that it has put the hostages' lives in danger," she said.
"Even if you don't agree with our position that Israel is committing an ongoing genocide in Gaza, still the only path to ending the war and putting a stop to this illegitimate government, is refusal to serve in the army on a widespread scale."
Anti-war activists from Radical Bloc protested at Israel's military headquarters, challenging soldiers and calling for conscientious objection to service. The demonstrators displayed images of Gaza and accused all military personnel, regardless of their role, of complicity in the 'mass murder'
Dozens of anti-war activists staged a protest in front of the main entrance to Israel's military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Monday morning, as soldiers were streaming into the complex to begin their work day.
The protestors held up posters depicting the suffering and destruction in Gaza and called for an end to war and wide-spread conscientious objection, as a "moral obligation."
The demonstration was organized by Tel Aviv's chapter of Radical Bloc, a left-wing grassroots organization, in protest of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza and the compulsory military service which has enabled Israel Defense Forces to keep troops there for over 15 months.
As soldiers arrived for their duties at IDF headquarters in the morning, they were met by dozens of activists, many holding posters showing injured and deceased Palestinians, casualties of the Israeli army, large crowds of Gazans pleading for food, and an image of Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, who was detained by the IDF. One protester's sign read, "Refuse to take part in the genocide."
In a statement posted to Radical Bloc's Instagram account, the group explained the purpose of their demonstration.
"Whether you're pulling the trigger, pressing the buttons, or making coffee at an office as long as you are wearing the uniform and serving the Zionist state," the statement read, "you are an accomplice in the mass murder, the horrendous torture, the suffering, and destruction of the lives of over two million people in Gaza."
One of the event's organizers, who identified herself only as L, said that the group intentionally decided to stage their protest in front of soldiers with office jobs as opposed to those on the front line.
"It is even easier for those who aren't fighting in Gaza to close their eyes to the atrocities being committed there," L stated. "They can avoid responsibility by saying to themselves, 'I just handle the budget' or 'I'm just creating the AI technology.' They aren't necessarily forced to confront the horrors of the war face to face."
Israeli youth from the Radical Bloc burn draft orders during an anti-government protest in Tel Aviv, in April 2023.
She continued, "For us, it was especially important to have these soldiers in particular understand that they are a part of the same war apparatus whether they are pulling the trigger or not."
Compared to other protests, she and fellow activists were actually surprised by the lack of violent responses. "I think it has a lot to do with where we were," she explained. "The complex is heavily guarded with lots of security personnel."
Other than a few soldiers who yelled back at them, most ignored their chants. "But it was more of a calculated indifference," L described. "I could see it was important for them that their _expression_ communicated a sort of bemused apathy."
Alongside drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the protestors also called for conscientious objection to Israel's compulsory military service which, according to L, she and fellow activists see as the only moral option.
"In Israel's mainstream, people are starting to recognize that this war has gotten us nowhere, that it has put the hostages' lives in danger," she said.
"Even if you don't agree with our position that Israel is committing an ongoing genocide in Gaza, still the only path to ending the war and putting a stop to this illegitimate government, is refusal to serve in the army on a widespread scale."