TNA Staff
The New Arab / April 11, 2025
More than 150 former Israeli naval officers signed a letter calling for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, joining criticism led by air force members.
More than 150 former Israeli naval officers added their voices to growing dissent on Thursday, calling for an immediate end to Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza.
The officers signed a joint letter urging action to protect the remaining Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip amid the renewed wave of strikes.
The letter warned that the resumed Israeli military campaign would jeopardise the chances of securing the hostages’ release and further endanger both soldiers and civilians in war-ravaged Gaza.
This petition follows a similar letter signed by over 900 reserve and retired Israeli Air Force personnel, who called for the return of captives held in Gaza, even if it means ending the war.
In their letter, the naval officers also criticised the Israeli government’s conduct, writing: “Instead of taking focused steps to advance a deal to return the abductees, we are witnessing government behaviour that undermines the foundations of the state, damages public trust, and raises serious concerns that security decisions are being made based on illegitimate considerations.”
Israeli Air Force members also stressed in their separate appeal on Thursday that the continuation of the war is driven by political motives rather than national security concerns.
On Friday, Israeli news outlet Haaretz also published a letter signed by over 250 reservists and former soldiers from the Israeli army’s intelligence unit 8200, in which the signatories expressed support for growing calls to prioritise the captives’ return- “even at the price of an immediate change in the war.”
In addition, Israeli media reported that around 100 military doctors currently serving in the Israeli army signed a petition on Friday supporting calls to halt the war on Gaza and secure the return of hostages.
However, Israel’s Army Radio noted that the letter has yet to be published, as the petition is still being finalised. Organisers revealed that the vast majority of signatories are active reservists and additional military doctors are expected to sign the petition in the coming days.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the mounting criticism on Thursday, claiming that the Air Force letter originated from a “radical, marginal group,” and further accused opponents of trying to divide Israeli society from within.
“Expressions that weaken the [Israeli army] and strengthen our enemies in wartime are unforgivable,” he added.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, also argued that the letter was intended “to undermine the legitimacy” of what he deemed as “a just war.”
The Israeli air force later fired serving officers who signed the letter.
The Netanyahu government has insisted on continuing its brutal attacks on Gaza, which have killed over 1,300 people since Israel broke a ceasefire last March.
It claims that its main goals are to rescue the captives and dismantle Hamas.
However, Israeli forces have been responsible for the deaths of several captives, including a widely reported incident in December 2023, when three Israeli men were killed during an operation in Shujaiya, Gaza City.
Relatives of Israeli hostages, along with Israeli protesters, have continued to demand that the right-wing government strike a deal with Hamas to secure the captives’ release- even if it requires a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the conflict.
A poll published on Thursday by the Israel Democracy Institute shows rising public support throughout the war for prioritising the release of hostages over the elimination of Hamas.
According to the poll, 68% of Israelis believe that bringing the captives home should be the government’s highest priority.
On 7 October 2023, Palestinian fighters launched an attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Israel has since killed over 50,000 Palestinians and inflicted widespread destruction across Gaza.
The offensive has sparked what one of the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian crises, and Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant are now wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
