Soldiers, commanders recorded in Egoz hazing video dismissed
Hazing video of soldiers defecating on head of comrade leads to dismissal of 5, including officers, from IDF elite unit; head commander: Let other units, soldiers hear this story, learn its implications
Combat soldiers and commanders that were documented in the Egoz Unit hazing video, in which one soldier was seen defecating on the head of another, have been dismissed from the elite unit.
The dismissal took place after GOC Northern Command Maj. Gen. Yair Golan ordered the Egoz Unit commander within the Golani Brigade to dismiss the offenders, instructing other commanders "in the regiment and northern command to tell their soldiers of the incident and its implications," the IDF Spokesperson Unit said.
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The 42-second video features many of the unit soldiers standing by and laughing, and several of them are seen documenting the humiliation with their mobile phones.
The soldier who was subjected to the hazing had covered his head, and the faces of many of the servicemen in the video were also covered, rendering any identification of accomplices nearly impossible.
Over the past two weeks, since the video was brought to the knowledge of the brigade commanders, Maj. Gen. Golan was conducting an inquiry in order to trace the combat soldiers in the video.
According to the inquiry, the incident had most likely taken place some two months ago, most probably in the showers. The soldier who had been hazed did not seem to put up a fight, and may even have possibly cooperated.
The IDF was looking into the possibility that the incident was not part of an initiation rite, but rather the result of a bet between the soldiers.
The details were brought to the attention of the IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, who was also informed of the fact that three of the six soldiers documented in the video were dismissed, along with two officers in the unit.
Sources with the IDF noted that the incident was uncharacteristic of elite units in general and the Egoz Unit in particular.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit added that "This is a very serious offense, which reflects the exact opposite of what is expected of IDF soldiers."
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