About 100 Israeli soldiers from the Givati Brigade’s Tzabar Battalion left the Sde Teiman base in the Negev desert and abandoned their weapons following a protest regarding their commanders, Al Jazeera reports citing Israeli media outlets, such as Ynet.

According to an Israeli army spokesperson, the dispute stemmed from the battalion commander ordering the removal of symbols related to “irregular incidents involving the battalion’s veteran-junior tradition”.

“According to soldiers in the battalion, the removed symbols had accompanied them during fighting in Gaza and Lebanon and were passed down from one recruitment class to the next,” Ynet reports. “They viewed the items as representing their connection to the battalion and its traditions.”

Israeli news outlet Maariv, citing an unnamed military source, reports that due to the incident, the battalion is now unqualified to participate in combat missions it was preparing to carry out in Gaza.

Israel Hayom says the fighters and commanders left Sde Teiman carrying their personal bags, without their military equipment and weapons, and headed to their homes.