Days after the Israeli military acknowledged a shortage of soldiers, particularly combatants, data revealed that the percentage of women in the army's ranks has risen to 21%, with their increased deployment on the front lines.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel is sending more female soldiers to the front lines to address a shortage of soldiers amid a months-long grinding war.
The American newspaper quoted Israeli military data as saying that the percentage of women in combat units rose from 14% before the Gaza war in October 2023 to 21% currently.
She added, "Israel is increasing the presence of women on the battlefronts to help fill the manpower gap."
The report cited an example of this: an Israeli search and rescue team in Gaza spent long hours digging through rubble and removing iron to extract the body of a dead soldier buried under the rubble in Khan Yunis.
He pointed out that this combat unit, part of the Commando Brigade, operates in Gaza and specializes in recovering the bodies of soldiers killed on the battlefield. Although this is a routine task for the Israeli army, what distinguishes this team is that the majority of its members are women.
In a related development, the Israeli army previously acknowledged a significant shortage of soldiers, with the shortfall reaching 10,000, more than half of whom are required for combat, as military operations in the Gaza Strip continue.
"We are facing a shortage of more than 10,000 soldiers, including about 6,000 in combat units. This is an urgent operational need, and therefore we are taking all necessary measures," army spokesman Brigadier General Avi Deveren said during a televised press conference last Friday.
