Israel, on Thursday, dismissed Air Force reservists who published a letter calling for an end to the war in Gaza and a deal with Hamas to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza. The letter, signed by approximately 1,000 active reservists and prominent former military figures, was published in major Israeli newspapers on April 10. The letter shows growing discontent within Israel over the Netanyahu government’s handling of the 18-month-long war with Hamas and the failure to bring the hostages home.
The letter, which did not explicitly ask to stop serving, said the war was no longer protecting Israel’s security interests, but only the political and personal agendas of politicians. Signatories, including pilots, aircrew and former senior officers like ex-IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and Major General Nimrod Sheffer, pointed out that continuing the conflict put in danger the wellbeing of the hostages, soldiers and civilians even as it failed to advance military goals. They urged the government to prioritise negotiations with Hamas, and highlighted the dire situation of the hostages—only 24 of the 59 remain alive.
The IDF’s response to the letter was harsh. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar ordered the dismissal of all active reservists who signed the letter, stating that it was unacceptable for serving personnel to publicly question the military’s mission. The military clarified that only 60 of the signatories were active reservists, with a small number being pilots and most serving in headquarters roles. The remaining 900 were retirees or unknown to the military. Approximately 40 reservists withdrew their signatures after discussions with the IDF before the letter’s publication.
The latest crackdown follows the earlier dismissal of reservist navigator Alon Gur, who was permanently discharged after posting on social media that Israel was abandoning its citizens and prioritising political interests. Gur’s statement came on the day Israel abandoned the truce with Hamas early last month. The renewed military campaign has led to public protests and confusion among reservists who face personal and financial strain from repeated call-ups. A recent poll by Israel’s Channel 12 indicated that nearly 70 per cent of Israelis support ending the war to secure the hostages’ release.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners, including Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, criticised the letter. Netanyahu called the signatories an “extreme fringe group” attempting to fracture Israeli society, equating their actions to refusal to serve. Smotrich called the signatories “refuseniks” and warned against growing dissent within the IDF ranks. The government’s strong reaction appears to be aimed at preventing a repeat of 2023, when reservists threatened to boycott service during protests against Netanyahu’s controversial plan to overhaul the judicial system.
There is already widespread criticism against the Air Force for its role in the war, as its strikes have caused massive destruction of infrastructure and civilian deaths. The Netanyahu government, however, maintains that the attacks only target Hamas and it is being done to secure the release of hostages.
The latest dismissals point to a growing divide within Israel’s military and society. Senior officers have previously advocated for ceasefires behind closed doors to secure hostage releases and relieve exhausted troops. Netanyahu’s critics accuse him of prolonging the war to keep his far right coalition intact and stay on in power. Meanwhile, the hostages’ plight remains a rallying point for dissent, putting the administration on the defensive.
The IDF’s move to silence reservist dissent risks further alienating a military reliant on reserve forces while failing to address the underlying causes.