Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a number of members of his government attacked 130 Israeli soldiers who announced a few days ago that they would refuse to serve unless the government sought to reach a prisoner exchange agreement with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
Haaretz newspaper quoted informed sources as saying that Netanyahu called during security discussions to end this issue forcefully and decisively and to use all measures permitted by law to confront this disobedience, stressing that these soldiers have lost their “national conscience.”
In turn, Transport Minister Miri Regev said during the meeting that if this was a rebellion, these soldiers should be sent to prison.
As for Defense Minister Yoav Galant, he stressed that the numbers presented by the media regarding this message do not reflect reality, and that the Israeli army responds forcefully to any sign of disobedience.
While representatives of the Israeli army confirmed at the meeting that they did not receive the message that was sent to the media.
Soldiers’ message
A few days ago, Haaretz newspaper published a letter signed by 130 Israeli soldiers in which they warned that they would no longer serve unless the government worked to reach an agreement regarding detainees in Gaza.
She indicated that the letter was addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, government ministers, and Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy.
The newspaper added that the letter was signed by reserve soldiers from the Armored Corps, the Artillery Corps, the Home Front Command, the Air Forces and the Navy.
The letter stated, “It is now clear that the continuation of the war in Gaza not only delays the return of hostages from captivity, but also puts their lives in danger: many more hostages have been killed by Israeli army strikes, far more than those who were rescued in military operations.”
“We who serve loyally, while at the same time risking our lives, hereby declare that if the government does not immediately change course and work to reach an agreement to repatriate the hostages, we will not be able to continue serving,” the letter added.
Israel estimates that there are 101 detainees in the Gaza Strip, while Hamas announced that dozens of them were killed in random Israeli raids.
Although the joint mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States have continued for months, presenting one agreement proposal after another to end the war on Gaza and exchange prisoners, Netanyahu continues to set new conditions that include continuing control over the Philadelphia border axis between Gaza and Egypt, the Rafah crossing in Gaza, and preventing the return of fighters. Palestinian factions to northern Gaza by searching returnees through the Netzarim Corridor in the middle of the Strip.
For its part, Hamas insists on a complete withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip and a complete cessation of the war in order to accept any agreement.
