Israeli reservists are raising their voices against the ongoing war in Gaza, putting pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to shift its focus. In recent weeks, thousands of reservists from various military branches have signed letters urging the government to stop the fighting and prioritize negotiations for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Eighteen months ago, most Israelis supported the war’s goals of defeating Hamas and securing the return of hostages. Hopes for a peaceful resolution surged after a ceasefire in January, which allowed over 30 hostages to return home. However, those hopes faded when Israel resumed military operations in mid-March, breaking the ceasefire.
Danny Yatom, a former head of the Mossad, expressed concern about the direction Israel is heading. He believes Netanyahu is more focused on his own political interests than on the lives of the hostages. Many of the reservists signing these letters are long-time critics of Netanyahu and participated in protests against his government before the war began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’s attack.
The first open letter, signed by 1,000 air force reservists, was released in early April. The signatories argued that continuing the war would not help achieve its stated objectives and would endanger the hostages. They urged the public to act quickly to save the estimated 24 hostages still believed to be alive in Gaza, emphasizing that every moment of hesitation risks their lives.
Since then, similar letters have emerged from nearly every military branch, including elite units, accumulating over 12,000 signatures. While hundreds of thousands of reservists initially answered the call to serve after October 7, attendance has reportedly dropped to between 50% and 60% as more refuse to participate.
This situation poses a significant challenge for the Israeli military, which relies heavily on reservists. Yoav, an infantry reservist who served in Gaza last summer, shared his change of heart. Initially motivated by a sense of duty, he now feels that the government’s insistence on continuing the fight is misguided. He worries that the focus should be on the hostages rather than solely on defeating Hamas.
Critics argue that the longer the war continues, the harder it becomes for Israel to maintain its claim of having the most moral military in the world. Retired General Amiram Levin has suggested that soldiers, particularly senior commanders, should consider disobeying orders to avoid potential war crimes.
Netanyahu has dismissed the protests and the concerns of reservists, labeling them as propaganda from a small group of disconnected individuals. However, public sentiment appears to be shifting, with polls indicating that many Israelis now believe the release of hostages should take precedence over military actions.
In Tel Aviv, protests against the war have been ongoing for over a year. Demonstrators often display images of hostages alongside pictures of Palestinian children killed in the conflict. Recently, police attempted to restrict the display of certain images during protests, but quickly reversed their decision after backlash from organizers.
As the situation evolves, Netanyahu continues to assert that military action is necessary to secure the hostages’ return. The growing dissent among reservists and the public’s changing attitudes may force the government to reconsider its approach to the conflict.