The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) plans to require soldiers to enter reserve duty immediately upon their discharge from regular mandatory service. The enactment of the reserve draft order, known as Tzav 8, would extend a soldier's service by about two months.

The IDF intends to implement this reserve draft order as a temporary measure if the Knesset does not extend mandatory service before the government's potential dissolution. Brig.-Gen. Shai Taib, chief of the IDF Planning and Personnel Administration Division, warned the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Israel's regular combat force could face severe strain without urgent manpower legislation. Taib stated that a service extension would help the IDF build force capacity, address burnout, and generate greater service flexibility.

Taib said, "Unfortunately, the combat gap is only intensifying, and this is what the coming years will look like." He outlined plans for new reserve and general infantry battalions and stated there are plans to return former soldiers to active duty. Israel's mandatory military service is scheduled to be reduced to 30 months in January 2027.

A senior IDF official criticized the measure, stating, "It is illogical and unreasonable in a democratic country to bring in reserve soldiers for another hundred days of reserve duty this year, already in the third year." The proposed changes to reserve duty and mandatory service reflect concerns within the IDF regarding potential combat personnel shortages. The measure aims to maintain force capacity and flexibility while managing existing service members' strain. The IDF's plans indicate a need to adapt its personnel policies to current operational requirements and projected future challenges, especially if legislative action on service extensions does not occur.