The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the release of dozens of ultra-Orthodox defectors on the evening of September 21st, 2025, coinciding with a holiday period. The IDF stated the release was equitable from all sectors and is a long-standing military outline without political influence. This development occurred within the reporting window of 8:37 PM to 9:35 PM UTC. A report from "Doron_Kadosh" on X, translated from Hebrew, highlighted the release as a "Holiday President" event. However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism, with the report questioning the discretion of releasing defectors while over 100,000 militants are unable to observe holidays at home and tens of thousands of IDF fighters are deployed in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Judea and Samaria. The report characterized the decision as "completely disrupted discretion" and a "giant disgrace and stain on the IDF." This event follows other significant international developments, including Portugal's official recognition of the State of Palestine in New York on September 21st, 2025. Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Saar met with UK politicians in New York on the same day to express opposition to this recognition. These recognitions have been described by sources within the Palestinian Authority as primarily moral and symbolic, with no immediate impact on state establishment. Earlier on September 21st, Hamas publicly executed three Palestinians in Gaza City on accusations of cooperation with Israel. In parallel, seven Palestinians, including four children, were reported killed by Israeli warplanes striking near an UNRWA clinic in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to co-chair a peace conference in New York with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, having previously linked hostage releases in Gaza to the opening of a French embassy in Palestine.
