Female soldier steps on a young snake
(Video: Social media)
Disturbing cruelty to animals is unfortunately common in Israel, and the IDF is not immune but recent reporting brought three cases to light, including two separate incidents of snakes being killed and one case of a bird's nest with chicks, being carelessly removed.
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Despite military rules regarding the treatment of animals, in one case, a soldier who encountered a young snake while on duty in an outpost, was seen on video repeatedly stepping on the reptile with her shoe and killing it.
In another case last May, soldiers encountered a snake while on a mission near the southern city of Eilat. They threw stones at the snake for an extended period of time until it died. A third incident that was filmed was that of an officer who rather than calling in the dedicated and qualified personnel, took it upon himself to remove a bird's nest containing chicks from the barracks housing female soldiers and throwing it into a trash bin where the birds died.
Military officials told Ynet that all three cases were known to senior officers, but a decision has not yet been made on whether to launch an investigation.
IDF soldiers were seen throwing stones at a snake
(Video: Social media)
"The severe harm to animals in the IDF continues, and nothing is being done to stop it," said Yuval Hiyuroni, director of veganism promotion in the IDF. "The military police and prosecution turn a blind eye to animal cruelty offense, and the Medical Corps, responsible for the well-being of animals in military areas, has not yet recognized that it falls within their responsibility," he said.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in response: "The IDF views any incident of harm to animals severely and takes action to mitigate such phenomena in its ranks. Every report of such an event is thoroughly investigated by the relevant authorities."