Graduates of elite IDF academy latest to sign letter calling for end to war

Graduates of the IDF’s prestigious Talpiot program are adding their voices to growing calls for the immediate return of Israeli hostages, even if it requires halting the war in Gaza.

In a newly published letter, Talpiot graduates say they support the recent protest by Israeli Air Force reservists and denounce the government’s war policy as serving “political and personal interests” rather than security needs.

“The continuation of the war does not contribute to any of its stated goals,” the letter states, warning it will only lead to more deaths — including hostages, IDF soldiers, and innocent civilians — and the erosion of Israel’s reserve forces. The signatories urge the public to demand action and condemn efforts to silence dissenting voices.

This is not the first time Talpiot graduates have taken a public stance. In July 2023, hundreds signed a letter refusing voluntary reserve duty in protest of the government’s proposed judicial overhaul.

Talpiot is an elite IDF training program for soldiers who have demonstrated academic excellence in the sciences. The soldiers pursue academic degrees in physics, math, or computer science while serving in the IDF.