Israel is significantly increasing the combat participation of female soldiers as a result of the war with the Palestinian armed group Hamas. Analysts report that the military organization is undergoing changes as female soldiers, who previously had limited roles, are deployed in areas of full-scale war such as the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria.
On the 7th (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that following Hamas's surprise attack in October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is actively involving female soldiers in combat missions. Prior to the war, female personnel mainly had auxiliary roles such as border defense and checkpoint duties, but now they are said to be operating on the front lines alongside male counterparts.
Israel is one of the few countries, along with Norway, Sweden, and North Korea, that implement mandatory conscription for women. Women are eligible for conscription starting at age 18 and make up about 33% of the total military personnel.
In particular, the proportion of female combat soldiers was only 14% before the 2023 war, but it has now increased to 21%, gradually enhancing their influence within the military. Many of these individuals are soldiers who voluntarily chose combat roles, and the military organization is expanding female combat positions and focusing on training female soldiers.
The contributions of female soldiers are clearly evident on the battlefield. In October, when Hamas launched its surprise attack, female tank operators undertook civilian protection operations against armed forces that had infiltrated across the border. Three teams of female tank operators from the southern border's Caracal unit received praise for engaging directly with Palestinian armed groups and effectively contributing to territorial defense.
Female soldiers are seen as a breakthrough for Israel, which has long struggled with chronic personnel shortages. Israel's military structure relies heavily on reservists, with civilians being conscripted during wartime, leading to a persistent issue of troop shortages. Consequently, the IDF is reviewing the expansion of conscription to ultra-Orthodox Jewish men who were previously exempt, along with the expansion of female soldiers.
The expanded combat participation of female personnel is bringing about structural changes across the IDF. In the past, female soldiers were only deployed in certain border guard units, but they are now being assigned to various combat fields, including search and rescue and special operations. For instance, the search and rescue unit, which began recruiting female soldiers in 2008, now has 70% of its personnel as women, playing key roles in actual combat missions.
However, the controversy surrounding the deployment of female soldiers in full-scale combat remains an ongoing issue. Concerns have been raised about the risks of sexual assault if female soldiers are captured, as well as the potential for lowering the morale of male soldiers. There is also backlash from religious communities arguing that conscripting female soldiers violates the principle of gender separation.
Nevertheless, WSJ analyzes that the expansion of female combat soldiers triggered by the Gaza war demands a 'new balance' from both Israeli society and military organization. The proven results in combat are changing perceptions of female personnel, indicating a fundamental change in military structure beyond mere gender ratios.
Herzi Halevi, Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, stated, '(The achievements of female soldiers) have answered questions surrounding female personnel.' A 21-year-old member of the search and rescue unit, in an interview with WSJ, remarked, 'Such opportunities would not have existed before,' adding, 'We have proven that we can actually get it done.'