The IDF announces that Brig. Gen. Dan Goldfus, the commander of the 98th Division, has received a “severe reprimand” from Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi for his impromptu remarks directed at Israel’s political leaders during a press conference on Wednesday.

“The chief of staff severely reprimanded the division commander for acting in a manner contrary to what is expected of a senior commander in the IDF,” the military states.

Halevi conveyed to Goldfus that he “misused the trust placed in him in a way that undermined the dignity of the IDF and crossed the boundaries between the political and military spheres in a democratic country.”

The chief of staff also acknowledged Goldfus’s professionalism and significant contributions to the IDF, particularly during the recent months of conflict. However, he emphasized that this did not excuse Goldfus’s behavior.

According to the IDF, Goldfus accepted the rebuke from Halevi, acknowledged the impropriety of his actions and their deviation from military protocol, and offered an apology.

During the press conference, Goldfus departed from his prepared and approved statement to address Israel’s political leadership, urging them to “be worthy of us,” asserting that the military would “not shirk its responsibilities,” and admonishing against extremism.

These additional remarks had not been sanctioned by Goldfus’s superiors.