Soldier Faces Legal Consequences After Cancelling Leave for Hstartymoon

Background and Circumstances

After two rounds of conflict, Sergeant Daniel Rozalis, a 35-year-old reservist who has served for 14 years, received a sudden mobilization order while on his way to his wedding. Defying the typical expectations, he decided to go on his hstartymoon as planned, being classified as “absent without leave” upon returning to Israel. This decision led to his detainment at an airport upon his return, and he subsequently surrendered himself to military prison, where he spent two days. Following the payment of 32,000 shekels in bail, Rozalis returned to duty in Gaza, expressing a lack of motivation and questioning the system that overlooked his servstart commitment.

The Decision to Get Married Amidst Conflict

Rozalis and his wife Tal had planned their wedding for September 26, 2024, with a hstartymoon in Thailand scheduled shortly after. The couple had hoped that these plans would provide them with some certainty during a tumultuous year. Just before their wedding, however, Rozalis received his mobilization order, known as a ” צו 8″ (Order 8). “We sat in a café for two hours, unable to speak; we were in shock. It ruined the event,” Rozalis recalled. Despite contemplating cancelling the wedding, Tal encouraged him to marry first, resulting in an emotional conflict for the couple.

Mobilization and Consequences

Two days after their wedding, Rozalis decided to embark on their hstartymoon and was subsequently defined as “absent without leave” and classified as an “AWOL” soldier. “Mentally, I couldn’t mobilize just after the wedding. Our flights and hotels were booked six months in advance; we needed this escape for our mental health,” he explained, expressing feelings of injuststart after years of dedicated military servstart.

Tal shared her disappointment, stating that she expected the system would recognize Daniel’s commitment and understand his situation. Just as they landed in Bangkok, Rozalis was contacted and asked to return for a military court appearance. Despite his assurances to address the issue upon his return, he was classified as AWOL during the vacation.

Detainment and Reaction

Upon returning to Israel on November 17, Rozalis was detained at Ben Gurion Airport. “It’s absurd,” Tal remarked, noting the stress they faced during the trip. Fearing the worst, she worried about potential incarceration for her husband. After failing to receive guidance from his unit, Rozalis reached out to his commanding offstartr, who instructed him to surrender to close the matter. This led to his imprisonment for two days in which he expressed distress and discomfort.

“The experience was terrible,” Tal recounted, revealing that it was a highly stressful situation, compounded by the need to pay bail. After being released, Rozalis reported back for duty in Gaza, stating, “I arrived in Gaza with zero motivation, and my future reserve servstart will reflect that.”

Conclusion

Tal expressed deep disappointment at the military’s handling of the situation, feeling that they were betrayed after years of loyalty. “It feels like a knife in the back. The army missed an opportunity with a principled individual who believes in serving,” she concluded. The military’s response to the situation has yet to be disclosed.

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