Four more soldiers who led a mass walkout of infantry soldiers from an army base in southern Israel last week have been sentenced to prison and dismissed from combat duty, the military said Tuesday, bringing the number of troops jailed over the incident to 18.

On Thursday, around 100 infantry soldiers from the Givati Brigade’s Tzabar Battalion left their weapons behind and abandoned the Sde Teiman base in protest after their battalion commander destroyed decorative signs they had put up.

Three soldiers who led the walkout were sentenced to 30 days in military prison, the army announced Tuesday morning. A fourth, who was on leave ahead of his upcoming discharge when sentenced, received a 20-day sentence. All four were also removed from combat duty, the Israel Defense Force said.

On Friday, the army sentenced 14 other soldiers identified as leaders of the walkout to 30 days in prison and dismissed them from combat duty.

The walkout was sparked when signs posted on the base, which soldiers said were part of a company tradition, were torn down by the commander. The military said the decorations contained........

© The Times of Israel