ISRAEL’S Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that the military must begin to conscript ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, a landmark decision that could wreck the governing coalition.
The decision followed comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the “intense phase” of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza is nearly over and that its forces will move to the northern border with Lebanon to concentrate on fighting Shi’ite resistance movement Hezbollah.
Today’s historic ruling effectively puts an end to a decades-old system that granted ultra-Orthodox men broad exemptions from military service while maintaining mandatory enlistment for all other Israeli citizens.
Most Jewish men and women must serve three and two years respectively and remain on reserve duty until the age of 40.
The exemptions angered the secular public as the military called up tens of thousands of soldiers for the Gaza campaign.
Mr Netanyahu’s government includes ultra-Orthodox parties that oppose any change to the current system.
If the exemptions are ended, they could pull out of the difficultly assembled coalition, causing the government to collapse and probably triggering new elections.
Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jews, who make up roughly 13 per cent of the 9.9 million-strong population, see their full-time religious study as their contribution to protecting the state.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed at least 24 people in separate air strikes on a school and a house in a refugee camp in Gaza City today, according to health officials.
Among the dead was the sister of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, officials said. She lived in the house.
Mr Haniyeh, the public face of the Islamist group, is based in Qatar and was not in the strike zone.
Hamas described the strikes as “massacres,” with a statement saying: “We hold the administration of US President Joe Biden responsible for the continued war of genocide against our Palestinian people in Gaza Strip through continuing to offer the zionist government and its criminal army political and military cover.”
Israeli tanks also pushed deeper into Rafah overnights, blowing up homes, residents said.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said today that hospitals and medical centres were experiencing severe medical shortages, including medications needed for emergency, anaesthesia and intensive care operations, due to Israel’s continuing attacks, its closure of border crossings and targeting of the health sector.
