In brief
As Israel's war continues, reservists like Noam Glukhovsky are reluctant to return to the front lines, highlighting a growing weariness among troops and the strain on civilian life.
In the midst of ongoing conflict, the toll on reservists serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has grown heavy. Noam Glukhovsky, a 33-year-old medic and reservist, reflects a wave of war fatigue that has taken over Israeli society. With his plans to resume medical studies put on hold, he emphasized the urgency to end the fighting: “I can’t put my life on hold anymore.” Following a recent ceasefire deal with Lebanon, Glukhovsky hopes for stability but knows the fighting in Gaza continues. After 250 days in uniform this year, demand for reservists has decreased; many are no longer reporting for duty. Glukhovsky credits the lower turnout to exhaustion, especially after the intense mobilization following the tragic attacks on October 7, which saw a 100% response rate that has now dropped to just 85%.Brigadier General Ariel Heimann, a former chief reserve officer, warns that reliance on reservists is becoming increasingly unsustainable. He expressed, “The IDF is like a spring—stretched too far, it’ll break,” making calls to extend mandatory service for male conscripts as a potential solution. Alongside these military pressures, economic consequences are emerging. The Bank of Israel predicts the war's cost could soar up to $70 billion, jeopardizing small businesses. Shelly Lotan, a food tech entrepreneur, finds herself overwhelmed as two employees have been called up, disrupting her operations and risking her family stability as her husband also serves.Despite the momentary relief from the Lebanon ceasefire, the continued violence in Gaza leaves many like Lotan questioning Israel's future strategy. She said, “I think the war should have ended by now...without clarity, we can’t go on.” The human and economic impacts of war directly affect both soldiers and civilians and reflect the urgent need for resolution.
