Brigade commander defends battalion chief: 'The signs were used to abuse young soldiers'

Givati Brigade commander Col. Netanel Shamka defended the 'Tzabar' battalion commander who smashed signs used in hazing ceremonies, clarifying that no disrespect was shown to fallen soldiers' symbols. He described abuse of young soldiers and noted the commander was present. 18 soldiers were sentenced to 30 days in prison and will be removed from combat service, while about 80 others underwent a command process. Shamka also spoke about the return of Goldin and Hammami's bodies and the brigade's achievements in Gaza and Lebanon.

Givati Brigade commander Col. Netanel Shamka came to the defense of the 'Tzabar' battalion commander who smashed signs used in hazing ceremonies, clarifying that no one's honor was harmed. He said, "Many hazing and harassment phenomena toward young soldiers have emerged; we will not give them a place," and that the battalion commander "found signs used for hazing ceremonies for young soldiers. This is not a new case - and we always work to eradicate it." Shamka noted that in the past, soldiers took their own lives out of fear of abuse. The battalion commander himself published a message to parents, explaining that he broke wooden signs of "Satan, Angel of Death, and more" representing abuse. Following the incident, 18 soldiers who led the hazing were sentenced to 30 days in prison and will be removed from combat service, and about 80 others underwent a command process. Shamka also spoke about the return of the bodies of Lt. Hadar Goldin and Col. Asaf Hammami, and the brigade's achievements in Gaza, Lebanon, and Judea and Samaria, including the elimination of Tarek Daoud.

Brigade commander defends battalion chief: 'The signs were used to abuse young soldiers'