Approximately 1,000 current and retired Israeli Air Force pilots have signed a letter saying the Gaza War would only be in “political interests.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denounced about 1,000 current and retired Israeli Air Force reserves. Israeli Air Force reserves signed a letter calling for the end of the war in Gaza, calling them “limits and extremists” while expressing their support for the pilot’s rejection.
In a statement posted to X on Thursday, Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister “supports the decision” of the Minister of Defense and the Israeli military chief of staff to “defeat those who signed the letter.”
The document, which sparked Israeli political uprising, urged all Israeli citizens to demand an end to the war and warned that the fires in Gaza put Israeli prisoners at risk.
“As proven in the past, [ceasefire] While deals can safely regain hostages, military pressure primarily leads to the murder of hostages and the extinction of our soldiers,” the soldiers said.
“Currently, war mainly serves political and personal interests and is not a security interest,” the document added.
Netanyahu said “expressions that undermine the army” and “strengthen the enemy during wartime.”
“This is a marginal, radical group trying to destroy Israeli society from within again,” he added, accusing them of trying to overthrow the government. “They have already tried to do this by October 7th, and Hamas has interpreted the call to reject its role as a weakness.”
Israeli media said the letter did not sought a general rejection, but rather urged Israeli officials to prioritize the release of prisoners of war, rather than pursuing a deadly war.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz said the signatories include many active reserves, including senior officers and pilots, as well as others who are no longer active reserve obligations.
The report added that after the documents were leaked, military officials called the signatories and urged them to withdraw on orders from Israeli Air Force Commander Tomar Barr.
According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan, Barr also threatened that the reserve pilot who signed the letter would be banned from serving.
Haaretz said eight more people signed in protest, but only 25 of the signatures were withdrawn.
The newspaper later reported that Israeli military chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, and Air Force Barr, had decided to dismiss the reserves.
It is unclear when the dismissal will take effect.
Critics accused Netanyahu of keeping his cabinet intact and extending the war to remain prime minister.
The Israeli prisoners and their supporters’ families are urging Netanyahu to reach Hamas and ceasefire to pave the way for the release of prisoners.
Gaza’s health ministry has confirmed that at least 50,846 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli war with Gaza and 115,729 people injured. Enclave’s government media office has updated the death toll to over 61,700, and it has been estimated that thousands of people are dead under the tile rub.
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