Despite IAF pressure, reservists, veterans publish letter demanding prioritizing hostages over fighting

A group of close to 1,000 current and retired reservists with the Israeli Air Force publish a letter demanding the return of the hostages in Gaza, even if it comes at the cost of ending the war against Hamas entirely.

The letter 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.

“The continuation of the war doesn’t advance any of the declared goals of the war, and will bring about the deaths of the hostages, of IDF soldiers and innocent civilians,” reads the letter, which was published as an ad in a number of Israeli newspapers.

“As has been proven in the past, only an agreement can return hostages safely, while military pressure mainly leads to the killing of hostages and the endangerment of our soldiers,” it adds. “We call on all citizens of Israel to mobilize for action.”

All but five of the signatories signed with their full name, indicating they are likely not active reservists but rather retired veterans. However, the Ynet news site reports that some 10% of the signatories are active reservists, citing initial examinations of the letter in the IDF.

IAF chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar had reportedly sought to prevent the publication of the letter, which was originally slated to be publicized on Tuesday.