IDF combat soldiers, June 7, 2022. (Photo: IDF)
An investigation by the Wall Street Journal published on Sunday highlights a significant increase in the integration of women into combat roles in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), aimed at addressing a manpower shortage. Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza and Lebanon, the IDF has been recruiting more women into advanced combat positions as part of its effort to meet the demand for combat personnel.
According to the data presented in the report, the proportion of women in combat roles in the IDF has risen to 21% – a substantial jump from just 14% before the war, and double the rate from a decade ago. This figure surpasses that of most Western armies, including the United States military, where women comprise only 18% of service members, and only a small fraction of them serve in combat positions.
One example of the shifting approach can be seen in the rescue teams operating in Gaza – combat units specializing in extracting wounded soldiers from collapsed buildings and recovering bodies. According to the report, over 70% of personnel in these units are now women. Before October 2023, these units mainly operated in the West Bank in a defensive capacity. Today, some are embedded with elite reconnaissance units, executing missions deep in enemy territory, and have even been deployed along the northern border in preparation for potential conflict in Lebanon.
Female soldiers interviewed for the investigation described the war as a “turning point” and noted a growing recognition of their capabilities. “Today, we’re not seen as a supplement to the force – we are the force,” said one female officer. She added that the change has not only opened doors for women but has also redefined the scope of combat in the IDF: “We discovered just how capable we are – and now the system knows it, too.”
Despite the progress highlighted in the report, the recruitment of women into combat roles in Israel still faces challenges. Recently, the IDF decided to suspend the training of female soldiers in the “mobile infantry” combat track due to concerns about physical fitness and the potential for health risks. Brig. Gen. Eran Oliel, Chief Infantry and Paratroopers Officer, informed the soldiers of the pilot program’s suspension, and the IDF stated that the women would be reassigned to significant roles based on suitability, with maximum effort to accommodate their preferences.
The mobile infantry track for women was launched as part of a Supreme Court ruling allowing women to serve in meaningful combat roles. Since then, combat tracks have been opened to women in elite units such as Sayeret Matkal, Unit 669 (combat search and rescue), Yahalom (combat engineering), Unit 504 (military intelligence), and armored corps field units.
Hagit Pe’er, Chairwoman of the Na’amat Women’s Movement, criticized the IDF’s decision, writing, “We demand that the Chief of Staff publish the findings that led to this sweeping decision – especially during a time when the IDF repeatedly warns of a severe shortage of male and female combat soldiers.”
“A decision like this, which effectively excludes half the population, must be well-justified and accompanied by practical alternatives for women who are determined to serve in combat roles. I remind the Chief of Staff of past arguments against women in similar positions and of the bravery shown by female soldiers on October 7 and since, including tank operators who saved many lives on that cursed day,” she added.