Israeli activist imprisoned for refusing to join military amid genocide against Palestinians

Israeli activist Ella Keidar Greenberg has been imprisoned for openly refusing to join the Israeli military, and criticising the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

Ella, a trans rights advocate, has become the first openly transgender conscientious objector in Israel since 2016. Her decision is part of a growing, though still small, movement of Israelis who are resisting compulsory military service on moral and political grounds.

“Many Israelis don’t even know refusal is an option,” Ella told Al Jazeera. “We’re so blinded to the dilemma that we don’t think about it.”

By publicising her refusal, Ella hopes to raise awareness and encourage others to question their participation in the military. “My goal is to make people ask themselves: Why am I doing this?” she said.

Military service is mandatory for Jewish citizens of Israel, with soldiers frequently visiting schools to promote enlistment. Ella recalls similar visits during her school years, which she said served to mentally condition students for service.

For her refusal, Ella was sentenced to 30 days in a women’s prison, where she is currently being held in solitary confinement. Like other objectors, she fears her sentence could be extended in order to pressure her into enlisting.

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Before her imprisonment, she told Al Jazeera that penalties for refusers have increased, especially since the military launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip following the events of October 7, 2023.

According to Ella, prior to the war, objectors could be held for up to 120 days. Now, they face even longer detentions.

Ella named two other Israelis who have already served over 120 days in prison solely for refusing to join the military.

Despite being targeted by the state, Ella highlighted the contrast between her experience and the far more brutal treatment Palestinians face in Israeli prisons. She said refusers are sent to disciplinary military prisons, often sharing cells with IDF soldiers who have violated military rules.

Beyond imprisonment, refusers often face social stigma, isolation, and even violence. As a trans woman, Ella said she has also experienced discrimination. However, she noted that she has been spared harsh backlash thanks to the support of her family and her community, which shares her values.

Ella is the 10th conscientious objector to have refused military service since October 2023. While the number remains small, she believes the refusal movement is growing, as more people silently oppose the war but choose not to go public due to fear of repercussions.

Ella said her political awakening began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when extensive reading led her to question the systems around her. She described what she discovered as “ethnic cleansing, colonisation, and apartheid”and made a firm decision not to be a part of it.