ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY: RELEASE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR

Lieutenant General Zamir,

I am writing to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Yuval Peleg, aged 18, who is currently serving a 30-day sentence at Neve Tzedek military prison for refusing to enlist in the Israeli military. This is Peleg’s third prison term, having been previously imprisoned for 21 days, followed by 30 days, after initially refusing compulsory military service on July 21, 2025. Peleg should have never been imprisoned in the first place, and I am concerned that he is at high risk of being re-imprisoned after he is released as expected on October 27, 2025. Our concern over potential rearrest is based on a recurrent pattern of repeatedly arresting conscientious objectors for several separate terms. For instance, Itamar Greenberg, 19, previously spent a total of 240 days, across several sentences, in prison for his refusal to enlist.

Yuval Peleg had made his objection to military service on grounds of conscience clear before Israeli army representatives, as well as in a statement through the refusal process by the conscientious objector network, Mesarvot, prior to his summon date. However, the military classified his refusal as disobedience. Amnesty International considers Yuval Peleg and other conscientious objectors to be prisoners of conscience, detained solely for exercising their right to conscientious objection.

I urge you to ensure his immediate and unconditional release and to refrain from further prosecutions should he refuse to take part in future calls for conscription. I further call on you to support the introduction of legislation recognizing the right to conscientious objection to compulsory military service in line with the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Israel is a party.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]