Hello,
I am Iddo Elam, an 19‑year‑old Israeli from Tel Aviv. I refused mandatory conscription and spent 30 days in military prison for my choice. My refusal is not only personal, it is part of a growing movement of young Israelis who reject participation in war and occupation.
Through this genocide, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of conscientious objectors. Some choose to go public, others remain anonymous, some are exempted, and many have spent months behind bars. Currently, refuser A’ has been sentenced to his first 30 days in prison, while Yuval Peleg has been jailed for the fifth time and will spend 130 days behind bars in total after the latest sentence. The numbers have grown so sharply that the army has even doubled the number of prison wings to accommodate us.
Yet, much of society does not agree with us, we face online death threats and immense pressure from families, teachers, and peers. But support is growing. Many Palestinian citizens stand with us, and more Israelis are beginning to realize this war is wrong. Our choice is clear: you are complicit, or you refuse. Do you want to be a war criminal at 18 for the rest of your life, or stand your moral ground and be on the right side of history?
Even now, after the fragile ceasefire has come into effect, and while Israel insists on systematically violating it and continuing its control over at least half of the Gaza Strip, the refusers keep showing up and saying no.
Dozens of refusers rely on Mesarvot for legal accompaniment, lawyer visits in prison, social support, and guidance. Mesarvot provides the network that many young people lack at home, giving them the backing to resist even when families or communities pressure them to enlist. We also engage in protests and activism, sparking conversations about the Apartheid and the true objectives of this war.
My refusal is my protest, my commitment to peace, and my way of ensuring that children of the future live in security, free from missiles, terror attacks, and the destruction of their homes.
With hope and resistance,
Iddo Elam