Several IDF soldiers refused to report to their posts due to inadequate protection from rocket and missile fire, according to a KAN report on Wednesday.
The soldiers, part of a volunteer group, claimed that they had been raising the issue with the IDF for the past month, but nothing had been done to address the issue.
The volunteer soldiers had requested protective shelters for their outpost from their superiors multiple times, but were consistently denied, sometimes with an outright dismissal of the issue, and other times, citing logistical issues.
At one point, the soldiers were told that "a shelter was on its way," but the delivery was canceled after claims that the access road to the outpost was impassable.
"This is gross negligence, frightening, and dangerous," said one of the soldiers. "When there's a siren, we put on helmets and pray. This is shameful. What will they tell us if a soldier gets hurt? That they’ll draw lessons?"
"While the state repeatedly stresses to its citizens the critical importance of entering a bomb shelter or protected room, the same army sends soldiers to bases without any solution," said the soldier, stressing a gap between the Home Front Command's instructions and the reality on the ground.
IDF faces widespread shortage of shelters on base
The issue of inadequate protection on IDF bases is widespread, with numerous reports of severe shelter shortages across the country despite the known and ongoing rocket and missile threat amid Operation Roaring Lion.
"The IDF, which intercepts missiles and thwarts terrorists 2,000 km away, can't get a shelter to the outpost to save lives?" asked the soldier.
In response to the allegations, the IDF stated that it is"advancing a comprehensive plan to protect its forces, according to the assessment of the situation and the operational urgency."
"During the fighting, additional protective solutions were deployed at bases and units," the statement continued. "All soldiers are trained for prolonged stays, following the 'most protected place possible' principle."