Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
The ongoing conflict in Gaza intensifies, but criticism is mounting within Israel.
Escalating Military Opposition
In recent weeks, thousands of Israeli **call-up troops**—from every division of the armed forces—have endorsed letters demanding that the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu terminate the combat operations and prioritize negotiations to free the remaining 59 captives held by Hamas.
Public Sentiment Shifts Over the course of eighteen months, few Israelis questioned the conflict’s rationale: to vanquish Hamas and secure the release of hostages.
The January armistice and subsequent liberation of more than 30 captives sparked optimism that the war might soon conclude. However, after Israel resumed hostilities in mid-March, those hopes were dashed.
Military Veteran Speaks Out
The former director of the espionage agency Mossad, Danny Yatom, shared his concerns with our correspondent.
“We acknowledge that the primary concern for Netanyahu is his own agenda. In his list of priorities, his interests and the stability of the government take precedence, not the captives.”
The former chief highlighted that numerous individuals endorsing recent letters have been longstanding critics of the prime minister. Some participated in the anti-government rallies that preceded the war’s outbreak on 7 October 2023, following Hamas’ assault on Israel.
However, Yatom clarified that his decision to voice his concerns was not politically motivated.
“I lent my name and participate in the demonstrations not for political reasons, but out of a sense of national duty, ” he stated.
“I am deeply concerned that my country may lose its way.”
Hundreds of Thousands of Reservists Mobilized After 7 October
Since then, thousands have refused to serve
In mid-April, the initial public letter surfaced, endorsed by 1,000 air force reservists and retirees.
“Prolonging the war does not advance any of its proclaimed objectives,” the letter stated, “and will result in the demise of the captives.” Signatories urged Israelis to act swiftly before time ran out for the approximate 24 captives believed to still be alive in Gaza.
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Similar letters have since emerged from various branches of the military, including elite combat and intelligence units, alongside several decorated officers. In total, more than 12,000 signatures have been collected.
for a military heavily reliant on volunteers to fight it’s wars hundreds of thousands of soldiers have refused
On 7 October, hundreds of thousands of Israeli reservists heeded the call to enlist eagerly. Now, however, an increasing number are refusing to participate, with reports suggesting that reservist attendance has dropped to as little as 50-60%.
For an army that is dependent on these troops to carry out its conflicts this is a looming crisis of a scale not seen since the first Lebanon war in 1982.
The Effects of the Conflict on Israeli Troops
In a verdant Jerusalem park, we encountered “Yoav” (not his real name), an infantry reservist who requested anonymity.
Yoav served in Gaza last summer but expressed his unwillingness to return.
“I felt compelled to join and assist my fellow Israelis,” he recounted.
“At that time I believed in the righteousness of my actions. Complicated, but justified
But my perspective has since altered.”
The government’s resolve to continue engagements with Hamas, despite the potential jeopardy to captives in Gaza’s tunnels, is misguided he says “We possess the strength to overpower Hamas, Yet the goal is not to defeat Hamas but to prevent the dismantling of our nation.
A Former Army General Endorses Civil Disobedience
During his Gaza tour, Yoav maintained, “I endeavored to be the most ethical soldier possible.”
Yet, the protracted conflict makes it increasingly challenging for Israel to assert, as government officials frequently do, that its forces constitute the most ethical military globally.
In a recent opinion piece in the left-leaning newspaper Haaretz, retired General Amiram Levin advocated for soldiers—starting with senior officers—to contemplate disobeying orders.
“The peril of being drawn into war crimes and incurring a fatal blow to the Israel Defense Forces and our societal principles,” he wrote, “makes it imperative to take a stand.”
Some of Israel’s advocates, including those who have brought cases before the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, contend that such thresholds have already been surpassed.
The Public Views of Operation Enduring Freedom
In Tel Aviv, vocal anti-war demonstrations have been ongoing for well over a year, featuring images of the captives and other protestors seated on roads, displaying photographs of Palestinian children who perished during the war.
Such emotional displays appear to have unnerved the authorities amid the controversy sparked by the letters.
On 20 April, police temporarily instructed protesters that “images of children or infants from Gaza” would not be permitted, along with posters displaying the terms “genocide” or “ethnic cleansing.” Following expressions of outrage from the organisers, the police quickly reversed their decision.
For now the Prime Minister persists in his resolve to defeat Hamas. He believes that the only way to secure the liberation of the captives is through military coercion.