800 parents of soldiers accuse PM of aimlessly extending Gaza war, threaten action

More than 800 parents of IDF conscripts and reservists who fought or are still fighting in Gaza issue a public letter accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of irresponsibly and unnecessarily risking their children’s lives, and demanding that he reach a deal to end the war.

In a letter addressed to the premier, the relatives accuse him of leading “a war without a horizon, unlike anything in our history, solely in the interest of your own political survival.”

“Our sons and daughters set out on a necessary war brought upon us by your actions,” they claim. “They lost many friends and are continuing to die and get injured, mentally and physically.”

They say the troops were motivated by the stated war goals, “first and foremost returning the hostages.” But now, after more than a year, they assert the only way this will happen is as part of a deal with Hamas, alleging that the war is being extended aimlessly and that “the IDF has no reason to stay in Gaza, besides fulfilling messianic wishes of settling there.”

“We accuse you of abandoning the hostages and the soldiers,” the parents write, threatening to launch an “all-out struggle.”