Israeli Military Reservists Demand Ceasefire and Hostage Release Amid Gaza Conflict, Criticize Netanyahu's Approach

Nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists and hundreds from intelligence and naval units have called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Their protest, via open letters, has been met with threats of dismissal by Israeli military leaders. As the conflict enters its 18th month, criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach is growing, with accusations of prioritizing political interests over hostages' lives. Since March, over 1,500 Palestinians have died in renewed Israeli strikes, raising the total death toll to over 50,000.

Air Force Reservists Demand Hostage Deal, Even at Cost of Ending War

On April 10, nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists and retirees published an open letter in Israeli media demanding the government secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, even if it means halting military operations. The signatories, many of whom are pilots and aircrew members, stated that the war has failed to achieve its stated goals and is instead serving political interests.

“The continuation of the war does not serve the goal of returning the hostages,” the letter read. “It only leads to more deaths—of hostages, soldiers, and innocent civilians.”

The protest marks one of the largest acts of dissent within the Israeli military since the First Lebanon War in 1982. The reservists stopped short of refusing service but made clear their disillusionment with the current strategy.

Military Response: Dismissals and Accusations of Breach of Trust

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded swiftly. On April 11, military officials announced that all active reservists who signed the letter would be dismissed from service. In a statement to the Associated Press, an army spokesperson said, “There is no room for any individual to exploit their military status while simultaneously participating in the fighting,” calling the act a “breach of trust between commanders and subordinates.”

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Air Force Commander Tomer Bar reportedly issued warnings to 970 air crew members, demanding they retract their signatures or face expulsion. The military emphasized that soldiers are expected to remain apolitical, especially during wartime.

Intelligence and Naval Units Join the Call

The Air Force protest was soon echoed by 250 reservists from the IDF’s intelligence division, including members of the elite Unit 8200, and several from the Navy. In a separate letter, they urged the government to stop the fighting and pursue negotiations to secure the hostages’ release.

“The war’s continuation does not help achieve our goals,” the intelligence reservists wrote. “It only results in more deaths and suffering.”

This wave of dissent reflects a broader crisis of confidence within the military ranks, particularly among those who have long been considered the backbone of Israel’s defense establishment.

Netanyahu’s Hardline Stance Faces Growing Criticism

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the calls for a ceasefire, stating that such expressions “weaken the army and benefit the enemy.” In a public statement, he said, “In wartime, weakening the military and aiding the enemy through such declarations is unacceptable.”

However, criticism of Netanyahu’s leadership is intensifying. Opposition figures and former officials have accused him of prolonging the war for political gain. Former Supreme Court Justice Ayala Procaccia recently called for “civil disobedience,” while others have pointed to the government’s failure to bring home the remaining hostages—58 of whom are still believed to be in Gaza, with at least 34 confirmed dead.

Netanyahu’s recent visit to Washington also drew scrutiny. While he claimed progress on a second hostage deal, reports suggest that U.S. President Donald Trump pressured him to end the war and pursue diplomatic solutions, including normalization with Saudi Arabia and de-escalation with Iran and Turkey.

Rising Civilian Toll in Gaza

Since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18 following a two-month ceasefire breakdown, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that at least 1,522 Palestinians have been killed, bringing the total death toll since the war began in October 2023 to 50,886. The United Nations has warned that a large percentage of recent fatalities are women and children.

In one of the deadliest incidents, an Israeli airstrike on April 11 killed 10 members of the same family, including seven children, in central Khan Yunis. The UN Human Rights Office reported that between March 18 and April 9, there were 224 Israeli strikes on residential buildings and displacement camps.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Israel’s blockade on food, fuel, and medical supplies has left civilians facing acute shortages. The UN has warned of “forcible transfers” as evacuation orders push displaced Palestinians into increasingly crowded and unsafe areas.

Hostage Families and Public Pressure

Freed hostages and their families have continued to advocate for a negotiated resolution. On Holocaust Remembrance Day, Agam Berger, a military spotter who was freed in January, participated in the March of the Living ceremony in Poland to draw attention to the plight of those still held in Gaza.

Public pressure is mounting. Weekly protests in Tel Aviv and other cities have drawn thousands demanding the government prioritize hostage negotiations over continued military operations. Critics argue that the current strategy endangers the lives of the remaining captives and undermines Israel’s moral standing.

A Nation Divided

The protest by reservists is the latest sign of deepening divisions within Israeli society. The war, which initially united the country following Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed 1,218 people in Israel, has since become a source of national debate. While many still support military action against Hamas, frustration is growing over the government’s handling of the conflict and the lack of a clear path forward.

As the war grinds on with no end in sight, the voices of dissent from within the military—once unthinkable—are now impossible to ignore.

References

• Israel's army says it will fire air force reservists who condemned the war
• IDF says it will fire air force reservists who condemn Gaza war
• The Israeli army is facing its biggest refusal crisis in decades
• Israel's military says air force reservists who condemned Gaza war will be fired
• Gaza rescuers say children among 10 killed in Israeli strike
• Gaza's Health Ministry says 274 Palestinians were killed in Israeli raid that rescued 4 hostages
• A political blow to Netanyahu?: Trump shifts Middle East strategy with Iran talks, pressures Israel on Gaza and warms ties with Turkey
• イスラエル軍予備役など ハマスとの停戦と人質解放求める書簡 | NHK