Martin Barzilai

 Photographer
© Martin Barzilai

From Refuzniks

4109-09.jpg

Yuval Green, 26 in 2024, student, Jerusalem. « ‘Before 7 October, after a lot of thought, even though I still thought we needed our army for our country to exist, I had decided not to do my reserve service any more. On the 7th, I heard all the horrible things that were happening. I changed my mind. So I went. In the early days, we were in the kibbutz near the border with Gaza that had been attacked. We were there to eliminate the last remaining terrorists. And then we entered Gaza. This posed moral problems for me. I was wondering again whether I shouldn't leave the army. In Gaza, the worst thing for me was the level of destruction. Once we'd spent time in a house, they systematically destroyed it. After changing houses several times and witnessing several destructions, we were ordered to set fire to the house we had to leave. I thought that was unfair. I asked why. I wasn't satisfied with the answer. I asked to leave the unit. I wouldn't go back.»