One hundred and thirty Israeli soldiers have declared that they will refuse to serve in the occupation army unless the far-right regime in Tel-Aviv actively pursues a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza. The move comes amid growing internal criticism of the Netanyahu government’s handling of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and regional escalation.
According to Haaretz, the soldiers have sent a letter to cabinet ministers and the army chief of staff. The signatories include both reservists and conscripts in various military branches, including the Armoured Corps, the Artillery Corps, the Home Front Command, the air force and the navy.
“It is now clear that continuing the war in Gaza does not only delay the hostages’ return from captivity, but also endangers their lives,” said the signatories. “Many hostages have been killed by IDF strikes, many more than those who have been rescued in military operations to save them.”
Issuing an ultimatum, the soldiers said: “We, who serve and have served with dedication and while risking our lives, hereby announce that if the government does not immediately change course and work toward a deal to bring the hostages back home, we will not be able to continue serving.”
The letter goes on to warn that for some, “the red line has been crossed already,” while for others, “it is rapidly approaching,” adding that “The day is approaching when we will, with broken hearts, stop reporting for duty.”
The refusal to serve in the army comes following Israel’s rejection of a ceasefire deal in favour of continuing its genocide in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has torpedoed negotiations by adding new conditions for a ceasefire, such as his insistence on keeping occupation troops in the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt.
Israel has also killed a number of the hostages and expanded its military aggression across the region, bombing the illegally-occupied West Bank, Yemen, Iran, Syria and Lebanon, where one million people have been displaced. Critics say that Israel is seeking a regional war over the return of its own hostages.
READ: Far-right Israel rabbis demand Netanyahu return prisoners through a deal