A group of close to 1,000 current and retired reservists with the Israeli Air Force published Thursday, April 10, a newspaper ad demanding the return of the hostages even if it comes at the cost of ending the war in Gaza.
The protest against the massacre in Gaza at Paris Square in central Jerusalem near the residence of Netanyahu, Wednesday, April 9, 2025 (Photo: Free Jerusalem)
“Currently, the war serves mainly political and personal interests, not security interests,” wrote active reservists and former senior officials in the letter that was published despite the Israeli Air Force Commander’s threats to oust signatories. According to them, the continuation of the war in Gaza, 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 soldiers and innocent civilians,” reads the ad published in several 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.”
After the Israeli Air Force chief dismissed all active reservists who signed the ad, far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expresses support for the decision. “Refusal to serve is refusal to serve, even if it’s only hinted at in whitewashed language,” Netanyahu says in a statement and accuses the signatories of “acting toward one goal — bringing down the government.”
Seven protesters against the massacre in Gaza were detained on Wednesday evening in a protest at Paris Square in central Jerusalem near the residence of Netanyahu, as dozens of Israeli demonstrators called to “end the genocide” in Gaza. During the protest, cops confiscated the signs in Hebrew, Arabic and English carried by demonstrators. The police’s actions contradict an order issued by the attorney general in June of last year, stating that police must not confiscate political signs during protests.
In addition, 360 Israeli medical professionals, half of them doctors, signed a letter urging an investigation into the killing of Palestinian aid workers in Gaza. “Killing rescue and medical personnel is a blatant violation of international law”, they said. The signatories condemned the killing of 15 aid workers in the Gaza Strip about two and a half weeks ago and their prosecution. “We are shocked by this grave incident. The killing of rescue and medical personnel on duty is a blatant violation of international warfare laws, an act contrary to human morality,” they wrote.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32591
