JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An Israeli soldier was sentenced to 30 days in military prison after wearing an unauthorized “Messiah” patch linked to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement during a visit by Eyal Zamir, the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, to northern Samaria, according to Israeli media reports Wednesday.

The incident occurred during a visit to the settlement outpost of Sa-Nur, where soldiers from the Nahal Brigade were providing security for Zamir and senior commanders. During the tour, Zamir reportedly noticed the patch on one of the soldiers stationed at an observation point and ordered disciplinary action.

The soldier was later sentenced to 30 days in military detention. His platoon commander received a suspended sentence of 14 days, while the company commander was formally reprimanded. The battalion commander also received a citation.

The military said the punishments were tied not only to the patch itself but also to broader violations of military discipline and operational norms.

The case sparked criticism from some parents of Nahal Brigade soldiers, who reportedly sent a letter to Zamir calling for the punishment to be canceled.

“This is not how you treat heroes,” the parents wrote, according to Hebrew-language reports.

Yitzhak Kroizer of the Otzma Yehudit party also criticized the move, saying the army chief should focus on pursuing militants instead.

The commander of the Nahal Brigade defended the disciplinary action, saying the issue centered on military values and discipline rather than the patch itself.

“The story is not the patch,” the commander said in remarks cited by Israeli media. “The story is the values on which we educate.”

He added that failures in discipline during both routine activity and combat operations can cost lives.

The Israeli military has long prohibited soldiers from displaying unauthorized political or religious symbols while in uniform. Last month, Zamir reportedly described similar symbols as “a rebellion against IDF values.”