IDF faces severe manpower crisis as recently released reservists called back to duty

NOVEMBER 8, 2026 11:21The IDF has been calling up combat soldiers who were discharged from mandatory service only months ago, alongside reservists struggling with severe burnout and family difficulties, as the military grapples with a growing manpower shortage, Walla learned on Sunday.Despite mounting concerns over the strain on reserve soldiers, the IDF continues to issue call-up orders. Meanwhile, the General Staff is debating whether to publicly address the issue."They won the two wars on our backs, the reservists. Seven fronts, and the eighth front: elections," one reservist told Walla.Senior IDF officials are currently weighing whether to publicly and forcefully raise urgent issues surrounding the severe manpower crisis, foremost among them a shortage of approximately 15,000 soldiers.The military is also contending with the departure of highly skilled personnel, including engineers, programmers, and specialists with critical institutional knowledge who are receiving attractive offers in the civilian job market.IDF soldiers take part in a military operation in the West Bank city of Hebron, October 29, 2026 (credit: WISAM HASHLAMOUN/FLASH90)Reservists voice their criticismThe shortage is also being felt in logistics, leading to a new practice of granting veteran noncommissioned officers representational ranks.On the ground, criticism is far sharper. Reservists have strongly criticized IDF policy and warned that the burden on those serving continues to grow."The pressure and burden on a minority of Israeli society have not decreased after three years of fighting. They have increased, and so has the burnout. The IDF circumvents all criticism through emergency call-up orders. Reservists have no choice but to report for duty,” a senior reserve officer told Walla.According to commanders in the reserve brigades, reserve battalion and company commanders find themselves on the front lines every day, forced to make difficult decisions."They are dealing with self-employed reservists who are collapsing financially, people holding specialized positions in the economy, students, and combat soldiers who were discharged from mandatory service only a few months ago and are already being required to put on their uniforms again. Added to all of these are exhausted reservists dealing with complex family and relationship problems without an adequate support system," a soldier told Walla.The dilemma facing the IDF's senior command comes amid renewed political turmoil surrounding the military conscription law and efforts to form a new government.IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir addressed the issue more than a month ago, when the public debate was at its height, warning that the military was collapsing under the weight of its manpower shortage, particularly the lack of combat soldiers.Reports indicate increase in enlistment of ultra-Orthodox menWithin the IDF, there is a clear expectation that a coalition agreement will lead to the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men, with a strong emphasis on integrating them into combat units rather than limiting their service to administrative and combat-support roles.At the same time, despite the tensions, a notable trend has emerged on the ground.Figures for the year indicate a sharp increase in the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men into the IDF.The number of recruits is rising and is expected to reach approximately 4,800, despite widespread demonstrations and opposition to military conscription within the ultra-Orthodox community.Follow us on Google