"We will not participate in the genocide": Who are the refusniks, young Israelis who refuse conscription?

“We do not take part in the genocide. Resist, refuse! ” With these words, Israeli human rights activist Itamar Greenberg accompanied a video posted on his social media profiles: several young people, gathered in a square in the capital, performed a gesture charged with symbolism, publicly burning the conscription orders they had received.
On July 15, 2025, a courageous form of civil dissent took place in the heart of Tel Aviv . The protest was organized by Mesarvot , the network of "refusniks," young Israelis who refuse mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), declaring their opposition to participating in what they openly call the "occupation" of the Palestinian Territories.
A radical gestureRefusal of military service in Israel is not simply a conscientious objection: it is a political act , often punishable by imprisonment. Israeli law requires mandatory military service for all citizens aged 18 and over—three years for men, two for women. Refusal, unless justified by religious or certified health reasons, can result in prison sentences , including multiple convictions.
“Most of the teenagers you see in the video have served or will serve several months in prison for refusing to enlist,” Greenberg writes in a post published on X. And he adds firmly: “We refuse!”
“We will not participate in the genocide”The words used by the young activists are harsh, direct, and unequivocal: “We will not take part in the genocide . We will not serve apartheid. We resist. We refuse.” These are serious accusations leveled at their own country , reflecting the deep rift within Israeli society, particularly among the younger generations, over the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip , the treatment of Palestinians, and the growing authoritarianism of the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.

A few days earlier, during the Jerusalem Pride parade, progressive activists from the Mehazkim movement reported being forced by police to remove materials with anti-war messages. A video posted on the Voice Against War Instagram page shows signs reading "No Pride in genocide" and a banner reading "Resist genocide." Subsequent clips show police attempting to tear the banner away from protesters. The police reportedly justified their action by claiming the event was "not political."
The Mesarvot movement was born precisely from this climate of growing polarization. The term itself means "we refuse," and it brings together students, pacifists, intellectuals, and families who support the often risky choice to disobey.
A visible, but minority, resistanceIt should be remembered that the refuseniks, despite receiving considerable media attention , represent a minority compared to the general sentiment of Israeli society, which has historically viewed military service as an integral part of the state's social and identity pact . However, precisely in these months, marked by one of the most intense and controversial phases of the conflict, this minority seems more determined and visible than ever.
Mesarvot isn't the only collective advancing these demands. Groups like Breaking the Silence (formed by former soldiers who denounce abuses committed in the Territories) have previously challenged the monolithic nature of the Israeli military establishment. Today, however, the protests are becoming more vocal: it's no longer just about reporting what happens "inside," but about rejecting participation in the military system altogether.
A new generation, another visionMany of these young people have grown up in a digital and global world, where access to information—including about what's happening in Gaza —is instantaneous. Their political identity is increasingly shaped by international values of social justice, human rights, and anti-colonialism . In this sense, their struggle engages with other movements around the world, from Black Lives Matter to Fridays for Future, to the pro-Palestinian student protests sweeping across university campuses in Europe and the United States. Their message is clear: " Not in our name ."
Luce