by Temitope Oladeji
10/4/2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rushed to criticize approximately 1,000 current and former Israeli Air Force reservists who signed a letter demanding an end to the ongoing war in Gaza.
The Israeli Prime Minister described the signatories as a “marginal and extremist group.” Netanyahu voiced full support for their dismissal by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) authorities.
In a statement posted Thursday on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Netanyahu’s endorsement of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi’s decision to remove the reservists involved.
The letter, which has sparked intense political controversy across Israel, urged citizens to call for a halt to the military offensive in Gaza, warning that continued bombardment endangers Israeli hostages still held in the enclave.
The signatories argued that a ceasefire deal is the most viable path to securing the captives’ safe return.
“History has shown that only through negotiated agreements can hostages be brought home alive,” the letter stated.
“Military pressure tends to lead to further casualties among the hostages and endangers the lives of our soldiers.”
The signatories also accused the government of allowing political motives to prolong the conflict, rather than acting in the country’s security interests.
Responding to the letter, Netanyahu stated, “Expressions that weaken the military and embolden our enemies in a time of war are inexcusable.”
He further accused the group of attempting to destabilize Israeli society and reiterated that similar actions before the October 7 Hamas attack were perceived as signs of national weakness.
Israeli media reports indicate that the letter does not advocate refusal to serve but instead calls on the government to prioritize hostage recovery over continued military operations.