Israeli army soldiers sit together near one of the Egyptian trucks bringing in humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip, on the Israeli side of the Kerem Shalom border crossing with the Palestinian territory on Feb. 6, 2024, as right-wing Israeli protesters gather to block the trucks from entering. (Credit: Menahem Kahana/AFP)
TEL AVIV — Israel's military on Wednesday proposed increasing the country's mandatory enlistment and reserve service commitments "in light of the war's challenges."
The army issued a statement outlining the proposed lengthening of required military service from 32 months to 36 months for men, and women serving in certain roles.
It also proposed increasing the required number of days of reserve service and extending the maximum age of soldiers and officers in the reserves.
The proposed changes require approval by Parliament to go into effect.
Israel has called up at least 287,000 reservists since the outbreak of war four months ago.
The Gaza war was sparked by the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Militants also took around 250 hostages. Israel says 132 remain in Gaza, of whom 32 are believed to have died.
Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and launched air strikes and a ground offensive that have killed at least 27,708 people, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The military had previously reduced mandatory service for most male citizens from 36 months to 32 months in 2015, and had planned further scalebacks for 2024.
TEL AVIV — Israel's military on Wednesday proposed increasing the country's mandatory enlistment and reserve service commitments "in light of the war's challenges."
The army issued a statement outlining the proposed lengthening of required military service from 32 months to 36 months for men, and women serving in certain roles.
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