Refused to join the army, was imprisoned

In a speech he gave before entering prison, the young Israeli stated the following:

"I am standing here at the Tel Hashomer base, and I refuse to be conscripted and participate in the criminal war in Gaza. I believe that massacre does not solve massacre, and that violence is not the solution to violence. That is why I refuse."

Following his speech, Mitnick surrendered to the military base amidst applause to serve his sentence. Haaretz reported that in an interview he gave to the newspaper yesterday, Mitnick said, "I am a bit stressed, but I know I will get through this. And I know I am doing the right thing."

HE CARRIED A POSTER OF A PALESTINIAN JOURNALIST

It was reported that the young Israeli is the first conscientious objector to be imprisoned regarding the attacks on Gaza, and that he could face further prison sentences if he continues to refuse conscription.

Mitnick, who is one of the activists that has come to the forefront in anti-war and pro-democracy demonstrations in Israel despite his young age, carried a poster of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by the Israeli army in 2022, at an anti-war and anti-occupation demonstration held in Tel Aviv in May.

"WE ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL NOT SERVE"

During the protests in September against the judicial overhaul by the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mitnick and a group of young people published a letter stating that they would not serve in the Israeli army.

The letter stated, "We, young people about to be conscripted, say no to dictatorship both in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territories, and we announce that we will not serve until democracy is guaranteed for everyone living under Israeli rule."

News Source: AA