A-G Baharav-Miara: No escaping addt’l draft callups after Gaza expansion
The government’s expanded draft order would be for 430,000 reservists and will be in effect until November 30, 2025
Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara wrote in an advisory opinion to the government on Sunday that there is no escaping the need for additional military reservist call-ups, even though the proposal currently on the table “raises legal challenges.”
The government is set to meet to confirm the expanded reserves draft orders, as Israel moves towards an expanded military operation and occupation of the Gaza Strip. The draft would be for 430,000 reservists and will be in effect until November 30, 2025 – about three months from now.
The government explained that the security situation demands more manpower in the military and said it is aware of the heavy strain on soldiers. The legal advisory at the Defense Ministry added that efforts are being made to increase manpower so as to lessen the load.
The controversial move comes in the wake of the dire humanitarian situation in the enclave, soldiers and reservists who are struggling under the load, and legislative attempts to pass a draft law that would exempt eligible ultra-Orthodox (haredi) men from service. A bill for the latter is being prepared for second and third reads in the Knesset.
Bereaved families, friends and Israeli soldiers visit the graves of fallen soldier during Remembrance Day which commemorates the fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem on April 30, 2025. (credit: Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)
What did the emergency draft order involve?
For context, the first draft call-up in October 2023 was for 360,000 reservists. The emergency order was extended several times until the original one had expired.
The next one came in February 2024, for 300,000 reservists, and remained in effect until June 30, 2024. That May, the IDF said it had maxed out the number of reservists it could call up under those orders.
Another order came in to expand drafts of up to 350,000 soldiers until August 31, 2024, and another for an identical amount until December 1, 2024, followed by another one for 320,000 soldiers until March 2, 2025. The next order was for 400,000 soldiers and valid until May 29. The final order was for 450,000 soldiers, with a validity of up to August 31.
