Ben Ari is among over 12,000 current and former Israeli service members who signed letters demanding an end to the war, according to activist group Restart Israel.
TEL AVIV — A growing number of Israeli military reservists are speaking out against the government’s renewed operations in Gaza, with some refusing to serve, citing moral and political objections.
Yuval Ben Ari, a reservist who completed two deployments in Gaza, said, “I refuse to commit war crimes… The patriotic thing to do is to say no.” He described feelings of shame and guilt over the humanitarian crisis, alleging that “people inside Gaza are starving to death.”
Ben Ari is among over 12,000 current and former Israeli service members who signed letters demanding an end to the war, according to activist group Restart Israel.
The backlash intensified following the launch of a new military campaign, “Gideon’s Chariot.” Critics accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — currently on trial for corruption — of prolonging the conflict for political survival.
Retired Israeli air force pilot Guy Poran added, “They’re saying this war is not legitimate.” He accused Netanyahu of being held “hostage” by far-right coalition partners demanding the reoccupation of Gaza.
A lieutenant colonel in the air force reserves warned that renewed operations could harm Israeli hostages still in Gaza: “This is a red line.”
Despite public and private dissent, the IDF stated that reservists are a “central pillar” of national defense. However, it did not directly address concerns that the war is being waged for political ends.
Poran concluded, “It has become a revenge war… You cannot just displace 2 million people.”