The IDF recorded a significant increase in complaints filed by career soldiers in 2025, according to the annual report compiled by the military ombudswoman.
Brigadier General (res.) Rachel Tevet-Wiesel, the army’s chief complaints officer, counted 965 complaints by professional troops (i.e. those not completing mandatory or reserve service).
This was an increase of more than 40 per cent on 2024 and a majority (58 per cent) were found to be legitimate by the Soldiers’ Complaints Authority.
The most common subject of complaints by this group was low pay, which made up 31 per cent of recorded cases.
In her report, Tevet-Wiesel called the increase “significant and worrying”, adding: “This is a warning sign that requires action to ensure that, alongside the expectation of total dedication from career service members, particularly after two years of intense and exhausting activity, the military authorities act to ensure that their rights are safeguarded and that their treatment is full and professional.”
Overall, though, complaints across the army declined slightly year-on-year, with 6,621 complaints lodged, a drop of around two per cent.
Of these, 3,134 were filed by soldiers completing mandatory service, 1,269 by reservists, and 847 by those in non-IDF defence positions, along with the 965 made by career officers and 406 miscellaneous complaints.
More than half (52 per cent) of the total complaints were found to be legitimate, of which 18 per cent have been or are in the process of being resolved at the investigation stage.
One of the more serious cases in this cohort saw a soldier complain that they had been left depressed and considering self-harm after being reprimanded mid-level commander.
The officer in question responded to the filing saying: “So commit suicide. Take your weapon and commit suicide.”
They were then verbally reprimanded by the brigade commander, and a permanent note was added to their record, the Defence Ministry confirmed.
In another case, a different commander was court-martialled after assaulting a soldier during an argument over the condition of their uniform.
Responding to the report, an IDF spokesperson said: “The IDF attaches great importance to the work of the Soldiers’ Complaints Authority and conducts a systematic process for learning findings and lessons.
"The report’s findings were presented to the Chief of Staff and some members of the General Staff Forum, in order to identify gaps and ensure they are addressed systematically and optimally.
"The Chief of Staff emphasised that he attaches great importance to the work of the Soldiers’ Complaints Authority as a central and essential oversight body for the IDF and instructed [IDF leadership] to ensure that all gaps presented in the report are addressed systematically and thoroughly.
"The Chief of Staff stressed the need to maintain ongoing and close contact between the Authority and commanders at all levels, accepted the report’s findings, and instructed [commanders] to present them to the General Staff Forum.”
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