18-year-old Yuval Peleg is jailed for refusing military service on moral grounds

Yuval Peleg is only 18. Instead of starting his adult life, he is spending 30 days in Neve Tzedek military prison. This is because he refused to join the Israeli military in opposition  to its actions in Gaza and the unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.

Yuval first refused compulsory military service on July 21, 2025, at the recruitment centre in Ramat Gan. Since then, he has been imprisoned three times — 21 days, then 30 days, and now another 30. He is expected to be released on October 27, 2025, but could be jailed again soon after.

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Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

A growing movement of conscience

Yuval is not alone. Dozens of young Israelis, including Itamar Greenberg, Oryan Mueller, and Sofia Orr, have also refused conscription since October 2023. Many of them are supported by Mesarvot, a network that defends those who object to military service on moral or political grounds.

Amnesty International recognizes Yuval and other conscientious objectors as prisoners of conscience — people jailed only because of their beliefs. They should never be imprisoned for refusing to participate in armed conflict.

Why this matters

International law protects the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and belief. This includes the right to say no to military service. The UN Human Rights Council has called on all countries to stop imprisoning conscientious objectors and to end repeated punishments for the same act of refusal.

Yet Israel continues to jail objectors again and again, denying them civilian alternatives. This violates their human rights and silences those who dare to speak up for peace.

You can write a letter in your own words urging the IDF Chief of General Staff to:

• Ensure Yuval Peleg's immediate and unconditional release

• Refrain from prosecuting him again if he refuses future calls for conscription

• Support legislation that recognises the right to conscientious objection to compulsory military service, in line with the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Politocal Rights, to which Israel is a party. 

Write to:

IDF Chief of General Staff

Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir

Yitzhak Rabin Military Base

HaKirya, 27 Kaplan Street

Tel Aviv 6473424, Israel

Emails: [email protected] ; [email protected]

Salutation: Dear Lieutenant General Zamir,

 

And copy:

His Excellency Iddo Moed

Ambassador

Embassy of the State of Israel

50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1005

Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2

Tel: (613) 750-7500 Fax: (613) 750-7555

Email: [email protected]

A Call for Action

Yuval’s imprisonment sends a dangerous message; that following your conscience can cost your freedom. Help us call for his immediate and unconditional release, and for Israel to recognize the right to conscientious objection.

For more, visit the Urgent Action page.