Israel: Conscientious objector Tal Mitnick imprisoned again

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by War Resisters International (WRI)

On Tuesday, 23rd January, conscientious objector Tal Mitnick, 18, from Israel was imprisoned again for his refusal to serve in the military. This is Tal’s second imprisonment and he was sentenced to 30 more days in military prison. He will have spent 60 days behind bars in total upon completion of his second term in prison.

Send your protest email to the Israeli Minister of Defense here.

Tal was first imprisoned on 26th December 2023, becoming the first Israeli conscientious objector imprisoned for their refusal to serve in the army since the start of the war in Gaza. On 26th December, Tal declared his conscientious objection at the Tel Hashomer recruitment center and subsequently received a 30-day sentence in military prison.

In an interview with +972 Magazine, Tal said 

“My refusal is an attempt to influence Israeli society and to avoid taking part in the occupation and the massacre happening in Gaza. I’m trying to say that it’s not in my name. I express solidarity with the innocent in Gaza. I know they want to live; they don’t deserve to be made refugees for the second time in their lives.”

How to support?

You can send your protest emails to the Israeli Minister of Defense using our template letter here.

As well as filling in our email alert, you can also write to Israel’s embassies abroad. Find a list of these here.

You can also use our template letter to write to the Military Public Liaison Officer at Kapatz@digital.idf.il and the Military Attorney General at pazar@idf.il.

Tal Mitnick is accompanied by Mesarvot, a political network of conscientious objectors from Israel against the occupation, and you can send your messages of solidarity to Tal by writing to info.mesarvot@gmail.com. Follow Mesarvot on social media (click here) for more updates.

War Resisters’ International calls for the immediate release of all conscientious objectors. Refusing to kill is not a crime.

War Resisters/’ International, January 23, 2024

Keywords:    ⇒ Conscientious Objection   ⇒ Israel   ⇒ Prosecution