In the ongoing war with Hamas, Israel plans to expand conscription for men

Israel plans to expand the mandatory military service The age groups for men aged 2 years and 8 months to 3 years will be voted on Sunday.
The three-year rule will be extended for another eight years if ministers agree, according to local news channel Ynet. This development comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war with Hamas and ongoing debates within the government over laws aimed at conscripting male members of the ultra-Orthodox community.
Reuters reported that Israel’s military commanders said they needed to increase troop strength to sustain the war against the militant Hamas group in the Gaza Strip and a confrontation with the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia.
After the extension period has expired, compulsory military service will be extended again to the current period of 32 months.
Meanwhile, the watchdog organization Movement for Quality Government sharply criticized the decision to extend military service for active soldiers, calling it a “scandalous decision.”
Opponents argue that the bill will allow a large number of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students to avoid conscription into the army, the Times of Israel reported.
In a statement, the group condemned the move as a “cynical and outrageous step,” claiming that extending the service of current soldiers without recruiting members of the Haredi community “represents a moral injustice and a crime against the fighters who bear the burden of military service.” The statement highlighted that an estimated 63,000 Haredi men are conscripted for military service, and called on the government to reconsider its decision and instead focus on extending the service to those already serving in the military.
According to public broadcaster Kan, the progress of the extension was delayed due to a disagreement between defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on the issue, according to the Times of Israel.