The Israeli military has fired Israeli Air Force reservists who signed a letter calling for the implementation of a Gaza ceasefire deal to free the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The letter was signed by nearly 1,000 current and former Israeli Air Force reservists. According to Ynet, about 10% of the signatories are active reservists.
“We, reserve and former air force personnel, demand the immediate return of the hostages – even if it requires an immediate cessation of hostilities. At this time, the war serves primarily political and personal interests, not security ones,” the letter reads.
“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, while further eroding the strength of the reserve forces,” the reservists added.
The letter says that only a deal can bring about the safe return of the hostages. The Times of Israel recently reported that Hamas has offered to free all remaining Israeli captives at once in exchange for a permanent ceasefire.
“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. We call on all citizens of Israel to mobilize for action and demand in every way: stop the fighting and bring the hostages home – now. Every day that passes endangers their lives. Every moment of hesitation is a disgrace,” the letter reads.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for the firing of the reservists who signed the letter. “This is a marginal and extremist group that is again trying to break Israeli society from within,” his office said in a statement.
