Israeli military to sack reserve doctor over anti-war petition
By
Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
16 Apr 2025 23:30
3 Min Read
One officer who signed a petition in support of an anti-war protest told Maariv newspaper he received a phone call from his superior asking him to remove his signature.
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People protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government outside the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP)
Israeli media reported Wednesday that the Israeli military has begun procedures to dismiss reserve doctors who signed a petition calling for an end to the war in Gaza. The move comes as a wave of public dissent gains momentum across various sectors of Israeli society.
According to reports, several reservists who signed petitions were contacted by their commanding officers and asked to withdraw their signatures. Those who refused were reportedly summoned to meetings with senior commanders in an effort to persuade them to reverse their decision.
Officers pressured to retract support for ceasefire
One officer who signed a petition in support of the pilots’ protest, calling for the release of Israeli captives, even if it requires ending the war, told Maariv newspaper he received a phone call from his superior.
“He tried to explain that the message had already been delivered and asked me to remove my signature,” the officer said. “I told him I needed time to think, and he requested a personal meeting to try to convince me.”
The Israeli military has reportedly taken similar disciplinary steps against approximately 1,000 air force reservists who signed comparable protest letters.
The petition phenomenon appears to be spreading across Israeli society. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, military and intelligence officials have voiced concerns that the Gaza campaign lacks clear and achievable objectives. They warn that continued fighting endangers Israeli captives and prolongs the conflict without resolution.
Dozens of military doctors in the reserves signed a statement urging an end to the war, citing 550 days of combat. “We believe continuing the war in Gaza serves political and personal interests,” the statement said.
On Tuesday, the Israeli public broadcaster reported that 500 graduates of the navy’s reserve officer training course also signed a petition calling for an end to the war and the release of captives.
Thousands call for cessation of war
Sources cited byHaaretzrevealed that more than 100,000 Israelis have signed various petitions with similar demands over the past five days, signaling a widening public pushback against the continuation of the military campaign.
These petitions align with onesigned by 950 active and reserve fighter pilotsrefusing military service, as these officers argue that continuing the fighting "serves nothing but narrow personal and political interests" and drains the military institution.
Israeli media reported that the Israeli Air Force Commander, Major General Tomer Bar, has decided to immediately and permanently dismiss any service members who signed a letter published Thursday morning, while the IOF emphasized that it cannot tolerate members who express a lack of trust in the military.
The letter, endorsed by approximately 1,000 signatories, includes support from both active reservists and retired air force personnel, and criticized the Israeli military's resumption of war on Gaza, claiming it is politically charged rather than strategically motivated.
The letter also addressed the government's push for judicial reforms, the dismissal of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, and efforts to remove Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, reports indicated.
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