Israel is exploring new avenues to recruit soldiers as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) face a shortage of up to 12,000 personnel, Israeli Army Radio reported this week. After 23 months of continuous conflict—the longest in Israeli history—the army is turning to the Jewish diaspora, the Orthodox community, and even former deserters, offering a one-time amnesty for those who re-enlist.
The IDF is particularly targeting young volunteers from Jewish communities in the United States and France, focusing on individuals aged 18 to 25. Officials hope to recruit roughly 600 to 700 soldiers per year from abroad to help address the manpower shortfall. The initiative reflects growing pressure on Israel’s military as it plans to expand operations into Gaza City by October 7, 2025, marking the two-year anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks that killed hundreds in southern Israel.
A representative from the Jewish Agency, which manages immigration and supports diaspora relations, told the French daily Le Figaro that no formal communication about the plan had been received. The representative also noted that foreign volunteers without Israeli citizenship would be limited to support roles, rather than active combat positions.
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The recruitment campaign also includes efforts to enlist ultra-Orthodox Jews, a group traditionally exempt from military service. In January, the army inducted its first batch of ultra-Orthodox soldiers into a newly formed fighting brigade, though convincing a significant number to join remains a challenge. Additionally, the IDF recently offered former deserters a five-day window for registration under a one-time amnesty.
The manpower drive comes amid mounting international scrutiny over Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have displaced roughly 1.9 million people and killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials on allegations of war crimes.
As the conflict continues, Israel’s military recruitment strategy highlights the strain on its forces and underscores the lengths to which the government is willing to go to maintain operational capacity, drawing on both domestic and international communities to bolster ranks.
