150 Israeli Navy Officers Demand A halt to the Fighting in Gaza

150 officers in the Israeli Navy signed a letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Security Minister Israel Katz, members of the Knesset, and the leadership of the Israeli military, demanding a halt to the fighting in Gaza.

The text of the letter, published by Israeli media, stated that 59 prisoners “remain in Hamas tunnels while the government retreats from its commitment to return them,” and the officers warned of “the dangers faced by soldiers, the harm inflicted on Israelis, and the unequal sharing of burdens,” emphasizing that “security decisions are being made based on illegitimate considerations.”

This letter aligns with the petition signed by 950 active and reserve fighter pilots refusing military service, as these officers argue that continuing the fighting “serves nothing but narrow personal and political interests” and drains the military institution. 

A letter sows chaos in ‘Israel’

Earlier on Thursday, Israeli media reported that the Israeli Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar has decided to immediately and permanently dismiss any service members who signed a letter published Thursday morning, while the IOF emphasized that it cannot tolerate members who express a lack of trust in the military.

The letter, endorsed by approximately 1,000 signatories, includes support from both active reservists and retired air force personnel, and criticized the Israeli military’s resumption of war on Gaza, claiming it is politically charged rather than strategically motivated.

The letter also addressed the government’s push for judicial reforms, the dismissal of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, and efforts to remove Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, reports indicated.

It is worth noting that Israeli media reported on Tuesday that Bar met with several reservists and veterans, including former IAF commanders, regarding their plans to issue a public letter calling for a halt to service.

In mid-March, the Israeli occupation military resumed its bombing campaign against Gaza, breaching a two-month ceasefire agreement that brought relative calm and had ensured a prisoner exchange between “Israel” and the Palestinian Resistance.

They argued that the reforms undermined “Israel’s” democracy and cast doubt on the legitimacy of military orders.

During the Israeli government’s initial effort to push through the judicial overhaul, which was suspended on October 7, 2023, hundreds of reservists, including dozens of pilots, refused to serve in protest.