This Picture Does Not Show Two Ukrainian Recruits Who Were Raped by the Israeli Army

Misbar investigated the circulating claim and found it to be misleading, as the circulated picture is old and does not depict two Ukrainian recruits who were raped by Israeli soldiers in the Maglan Brigade.

An Old Picture of Two Female Recruits in the Israeli Army

It has been revealed that the image was posted on various websites and forums on the internet in 2017 and 2018, purportedly depicting two female recruits in the Israeli army. These posts appeared within news reports and blogs discussing the enlistment of girls in the Israeli army. However, Misbar was unable to locate the image in an official source.

Recruiting Girls for the Israeli Army

The Israeli army stands out among the few in the world that actively recruit women under mandatory conscription laws. As of 2021, women make up approximately 40 percent of the total recruits in the army and about 25 percent of the officer corps.

In 2018, around 10,000 women served in permanent positions in the Israeli army. Despite the "mandatory" nature of the law, the average enlistment rate for women in recent years has been 58 percent, a lower percentage compared to the average enlistment rate for men, which stands at approximately 75 percent of potential enlistees.

The primary combat option for women is the Caracal Infantry Battalion, where they constitute 70 percent of the battalion's forces. There are also two other mixed-gender infantry battalions, the Jordan Lions Battalion and the Bardelas Battalion. Additionally, the Oketz unit, a dog training unit within the Israeli army, recruits women as combat soldiers.

It has become evident that the Israeli army employs a strategy to promote and embellish its operations by selecting girls who are likely to be socially accepted. This was revealed by Misbar's previous investigation into how the occupation utilizes female soldier influencers as a means to garner sympathy and cover up its violence.

Women’s Harassment in the Israeli Army

The Jerusalem Post newspaper published a report in January of last year, indicating that women in the Israeli army have been subjected to harassment. This report was based on a study from 2021, which found that one-third of Israeli female recruits experience sexual harassment during their mandatory service.

The report concluded that less than half of the harassed Israeli female recruits filed complaints, with 44 percent reporting that their complaints were not handled properly, while 26 percent stated that their complaints were not addressed at all.

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