____________________________________________ 5 IICC Perspectives appreciation levels or the unit's leadership. As was reported, she did appeal to both the divisional and the Southern Command intelligence officers, but to no avail. There may have been some issues of gender and rank, as the NCO was a junior female functionary who was supposed to tackle a group of ego-based, self-confident men, which turned out to be an impassable barrier for a young, non-commissioned officer. However, it should be mentioned that this female NCO's professional opinion was shared by male associates who spoke Arabic, but none proved capable of overcoming the system blockages. This seemingly professional failure would probably be scrutinized by an inquiry to be eventually launched. • Activities of Women in Regular and Reserve Service: In the fighting on both fronts, intensive activity continues in all IDF units. In the Air Force and Intelligence Corps, Regular servicewomen, including mothers, continued maneuvering in a busy shift schedule. Some of them are assisted by Red Magen David (MDA) "milk bank," which has expanded its activity in collecting donor breast milk for distribution to babies in need of breast-milk, including mothers of young babies who nevertheless volunteered to return to duty. • It should be noted that the number of women serving in the reserves has increased substantially since certain professions were opened to women. They were required to commit themselves to active service after their official discharge. In 2022, the share of women in the overall reserve service increased to 17% out of the entire body of reservists. In the current war, thousands of female reservists served in Gaza in various positions, in addition to combat and medical roles, logistics, communications, technology, and more, per the developing needs resulting from the prolonged employment of forces in the Gaza Strip. Many of them volunteered due to the turmoil and shock following the events of October 7 and the lack of military preparedness, which led to a general mobilization of civil society in many fields, as well as extensive volunteering of reservists, including some who hurried back to Israel from a stay abroad. The public debate regarding women's combat service: The first exposure to women's heroism in the war against Hamas brought about a sense of a breakthrough in consciousness regarding women's abilities on the battlefield. Gen. Yehuda Segev, former chief of the personnel division of the IDF, chaired a committee that recommended equal service for women in the IDF (2007); this, despite some vehement opponents among senior officers and civilian and religious pressure groups. Segev noted that the performance of female soldiers, who have proven that they can charge and attack without fear, constitutes a decisive answer to those who oppose and detract from women's service in combat units. Ov er the years, and especially after the Joint Service Ordinance was enacted in 2016, the debate was focused on the disagreement Image Envision, JVPD, NARA 535413 source;
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