Druze Reservist Sues IAF Officer Over Humiliating Remarks

A Druze reservist has filed a defamation lawsuit against a senior officer in the Israel Air Force (IAF) after allegedly being publicly humiliated during a military ceremony. Master Sgt. (res.) Amal Atila claims that the officer compared him to a terrorist while presenting his new rank at the Tel Nof Air Force Base in May 2024. According to reports from N12 News, Atila alleges the officer said, “You look like a Nukhba terrorist,” in front of approximately 30 fellow soldiers, prompting laughter from those present.

The incident left Atila feeling deeply embarrassed and shocked. “I was in shock. I felt the most humiliated in the world,” he recounted. The reservist, who has served 212 days of reserve duty during Operation Iron Swords, expressed that the comment was particularly distressing given his commitment to protecting Israeli civilians. “Calling me a Nukhba terrorist is absurd,” Atila stated. “In my daily life, I protect this country. I love it wholeheartedly.”

Atila, a decorated soldier who has received the Outstanding Soldier of the Base award twice, described the aftermath of the incident. He said the laughter of his peers exacerbated his humiliation, as few offered him support afterward. “All the friends who were there laughed. Everyone saw it, and no one said a word to him,” he said. “Only a small handful reached out to me privately afterward.”

His refusal to wear his new rank is a testament to the emotional toll the incident has taken on him. “I haven’t been willing to wear that rank since. It’s a really deep wound,” he added.

After confronting the officer about the comment, Atila was told it was “just a joke.” He challenged this explanation, questioning how others would feel if they were in his position as the sole Druze individual in the group. “Would they still think it was funny?” he asked.

Although the officer later extended a private apology, Atila felt it was insufficient. “Just as he mocked me in public, he should have apologized in public,” he remarked.

During the ongoing conflict, Atila served as a fuel technician, playing a critical role in supporting IAF operations in Iran and Lebanon. He stated, “My job was critical. We want to win the war, not lose it. I was part of the effort. I refueled during all the strikes in Iran and Lebanon.”

Atila is seeking NIS 150,000 in damages for harm to his dignity and reputation through the legal representation of Shimon Haan Law Offices. Attorney Nimrod Haan described the incident as one of the most degrading remarks directed at a loyal Druze soldier. He emphasized that such intolerable comparisons undermine the partnership between the Druze community and the State of Israel. “The court must send a clear and unequivocal message that such statements will not be tolerated,” Haan stated.

Atila expressed his hope that the IDF will take the incident seriously and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.