Israeli military warns of a manpower gap of about 12,000 and it will further expand

Reporter from the General Station learned on the evening of May 17 local time that the Israeli military has once again warned that due to the immense pressure on the regular army and reserve forces from multi-front operations in recent years, it is facing a manpower shortfall of approximately 12,000 personnel, including 7,000 combat troops. The military stated that unless the government legislates to address the personnel shortage, this gap will only widen further due to the reduction of mandatory military service starting in early 2027.

The Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Aviv Kochavi, has repeatedly urged the government to extend the mandatory military service for men back to 36 months. Previously, this period was shortened to 30 months in August 2024. The first group of soldiers enlisted under the shortened service period will be discharged in January 2027, and unless current laws are amended, this will further exacerbate the manpower shortage issue.

Over the past two and a half years, the Israel Defense Forces' Personnel Directorate has intensified efforts to "maximize manpower" and expand the recruitment scope, including opening more combat positions to women, calling for reservists to return to service, and striving to incorporate ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the military. (Reporter from the General Station: Liang Hui, Sun Jian)