IAF chief said trying to halt publication of letter urging immediate Gaza ceasefire
Reports say hundreds of air force reservists have signed missive demanding release of hostages and arguing resumption of war was politically motivated
Israeli Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar reportedly met with several reservists and veterans this week, including several former IAF commanders, who were preparing to publish a public letter demanding the return of Israeli hostages — even at the cost of an immediate ceasefire.
According to Hebrew media reports on Tuesday, the letter was drafted by reserve and retired aircrew members. It does not call for a general refusal to serve, as previously reported, but instead urges the government to prioritize the release of hostages over the continuation of the war in Gaza, which the signatories argue now serves “political and personal interests” rather than national security.
In a leaked version of the letter, it states that “only an agreement can return the hostages safely,” and warns that continued military pressure endangers both hostages and soldiers.
It calls on all Israeli citizens to “mobilize” and demand an end to the fighting to bring the hostages home.
According to the reports, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir attended one of the meetings with Bar.
Channel 12 news reported that hundreds of air force reservists signed the letter and had intended to publish it Tuesday morning, ahead of the High Court of Justice hearing on the efforts to fire Bar.
The letter was not officially published, however, and the IDF Spokesperson’s Office said it “was not received by the IDF.”
Late last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that ministers had voted to increase military pressure on Hamas, asserting that the methods were “working” to bring about a deal to free hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
The majority of hostage families oppose this strategy, warning that it risks the lives of their loved ones.
IDF military pressure is believed to have led to the murder of six Israeli hostages in August 2024, with Hamas claiming that it executed the group of captives to prevent Israeli troops from rescuing them.
In a statement, the spokesman for the military wing of Hamas said that following Israel’s successful hostage rescue in Nuseirat in June 2024, new protocols were given to terrorists guarding the abductees that they were to follow should Israeli troops approach.
Furthermore, Hamas said last week that it would not move living Israeli hostages out of areas in the Gaza Strip that the IDF has ordered to be evacuated recently, saying the Israeli government will be at fault if captives are killed.
Emanuel Fabian and Lazar Berman contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.