Americans haven't been ordered to enlist for Israel-Hamas war | Fact check

Andre Byik, USA TODAY
·3 min read
1

The claim: US reinstituted draft for Israel-Hamas war

A July 9 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) includes a woman speaking over a mashup of clips showing a military official speaking at the Pentagon and American troops and fighter jets.

"The military draft has officially started," the woman says in the video, alongside footage of the Pentagon address. "Men and women from age 18 through 26 are now being called in for the Israeli war."

Text on the video at various points reads, "Military drafts have now started," "The day has come," and, "No excuses."

The post was liked more than 4,000 times in four days.

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Our rating: False

The U.S. is not conscripting Americans into the military for the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The video references a bill passed by the House that would automatically register 18- to 25-year-old men for the selective service, but the bill isn't law and doesn't automatically induct individuals into the armed forces. To reinstate a draft, Congress and the president would be required to act.

US hasn't begun draft for Israel-Hamas war

There is no evidence the U.S. has begun forcing Americans to enlist in the military to fight in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The website for the Selective Service System – the federal agency that registers men and maintains a system for a potential draft – says there is currently no draft.

To reinstate a draft, Congress would have to amend the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the president to induct people into the armed forces, according to the agency. This hasn't happened. A search of the website for Congress yielded no such amendments. There were also no announcements about the start of a draft from the White House or the Department of Defense.

The Instagram video references legislation that would automatically register men who are at least 18 and not yet 26 for the selective service. The House of Representatives passed HR 8070 on June 14, but it is not yet law and doesn't automatically enlist individuals into the armed forces.

Fact check: No, Selective Service registration bill doesn't reinstitute draft

The video also references a $2.3 billion U.S. aid package to Ukraine and Israel's plan to begin drafting some previously exempt ultra-Orthodox men into the Israeli military. However, these developments do not support the claim that the U.S. has begun a draft for the Israel-Hamas war.

In a July 11 press conference, President Joe Biden said the U.S. has been working to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, with negotiations ongoing. Biden said he was determined to get a deal done and bring an end to the Israel-Hamas war. He made no mention of Americans being drafted to fight in the conflict.

The Instagram user who shared the video did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim Americans drafted for Israel-Hamas war | Fact check

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