One hundred activists, among them several members of Banki – Israeli Young Communist Guard and MK Ofer Cassif (Hadash), gathered today, Thursday, July 31, at the army’s induction center in Ramat Gan to support Ayana Gerstmann and Yuval Peleg, two 18-year-old Israelis who are refusing to draft in protest of the criminal war in Gaza.

Gerstmann, 18, spoke to the crowd as far-right counter-protesters shouted over her through megaphones, whistled and booed. “I see people who truly believe that not even the youngest child in Gaza is innocent and, therefore, deserves no mercy. And to that I say: A child is always innocent!” she said. “I don’t have the privilege to be silent when the environment around me has been silent for so long,” she said, adding that joining the army is worse than staying silent.”

“As a citizen of this country, I say in a clear voice: the destruction of Gaza – not in my name! The occupation – not in my name!” The two Israelis refusing to enlist are accompanied by the Mesarvot network which has guided dozens of teens through their refusal process.

Ayana Gerstmann and Yuval Peleg, two 18-year-old Israelis who refused to draft in protest of the criminal war in Gaza (Photo: Mesarvot)

During the protest, fascists clashed with the demonstrators. One man physically assaulted a protester and was dragged away by police. According to Mesarvot, “Ayana and Yuval refused to enlist in the Israeli army they were sent to military prison. There is only one clear answer to genocide: Refuse to be murderers!”

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32654