Israel: Reservists announce refusal in letter to Netanyahu

Israel: Reservists announce refusal in letter to Netanyahu

Israel has been fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon for more than a year. But not all soldiers want to take part any longer.

Just a week ago, Israel mobilized another reserve brigade for operations in Lebanon. This is intended to enable the continuation of the fight against the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia and the achievement of the war goals, including the return of the displaced residents from the northern regions of Israel to their homes, the military said in a statement. It was not clear how many soldiers there were. Israeli infantry brigades typically have a troop strength of 1,500 to 3,000 soldiers.

But resistance is growing among the reservists who have already been deployed in combat for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). An open letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi and members of the government has been circulating since October 9th, in which reservists call for an end to the fighting.

Reservists from Israel write an open letter

quoted from the letter: “We, the reservists and active duty soldiers, officers and soldiers, hereby declare that we cannot continue like this. The war in Gaza condemns our brothers and sisters, the hostages, to death.” And further: “On that cursed day, October 7th, we awoke to a horrific and indiscriminate massacre in which more than a thousand people were murdered and hundreds taken hostage. We immediately enlisted to fight, to defend our country and to rescue the hostages in the Gaza Strip. Today it is clear that the continuation of the war in Gaza not only delays the return of the hostages from captivity, but also endangers their lives: many hostages were killed by the IDF bombings, many more than in the military operations to save them.”

The signatories also announce consequences: “We who serve and have served with dedication, risking our lives, hereby declare that we will no longer be able to carry out our service unless the government immediately… For some of us the red line has already been crossed; for others it is approaching: the day is near when we will no longer report to duty with a broken heart We call on the government to sign an agreement now to save the lives of the hostages.”

Signatories do not set a deadline for the government

They do not write down exactly when the reservists want to quit their service. Initially signed by 130 people, there are now 153. Some have revealed their motives to the Israeli newspaper, the French daily and others. Many are disappointed that Israel’s government is doing little to free hostages through negotiations. Another lacks a clear strategy and sees himself being led into a senseless war by the government.

However, none of the respondents gave a specific date as to when they would put their announcement into action and actually quit the service. Perhaps a good 150 reservists are not enough to give the feeling of great backing.

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Source: Stern

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