Israeli soldiers threaten to stop fighting if captive deal not settled

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites + Israeli media
9 Oct 2024 14:48

Israeli occupation forces threaten to leave reserve duty if the occupation government does not settle a prisoner-captive exchange deal to secure the return of captives in Gaza.

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People protest on the first anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and call for the release of captives held in the Gaza Strip, outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's house, in al-Quds on October 7, 2024. (AP)

A group of Israeli occupation soldiers threatened that they would end reserve duty if the occupation government did not make efforts to secure a prisoner-captive deal.

In a letter addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant, 130 soldiers said that "continuing the war in Gaza not only delays the return of the hostages but also endangers their lives."

The letter added, "If the government does not change course immediately and work towards securing a deal to bring the hostages home, we will not be able to continue serving."

"For some of us, the red line has already been crossed, and for others, it is rapidly approaching: the day when, with broken hearts, we will stop reporting for service."

The group includes both reserve and regular soldiers, some of whom have fought in Gaza and on the northern border since the Al-Aqsa Battle.

'Israel' threatens prosecution of soldiers refusing to return to Gaza

On that note, it is worth mentioning that in August, the IOF reportedly threatened their soldiers with prosecution if they did not return to Gaza to continue the ongoing genocide in the Strip amid increasing refusal cases in recent months.

Approximately 20 IOF soldiers from an infantry brigade have refused to return to Gaza, "Israel's" KAN public broadcaster reported, with around 10 of the soldiers receiving official warnings stating they would face prosecution for disobeying military orders.

Families of the IOF soldiers claim that their military relatives “are forced to conduct ground maneuvers in Gaza or face prison," adding “There are only a few soldiers left in their company who are capable of fighting... This is our time as parents to help them confront a system that does not care about them."

That said, Gallant stated in July that Tel Aviv needs 10,000 new soldiers amid manpower shortages.

'Drop in willingness of IOF to continue military service'

Furthermore, a survey obtained by Ynet in May revealed that only 42% of permanent IOF officers wish to sign up for continued service, a decrease from 49% before the war. The reasons include extreme attrition, damage to family life, and dissatisfaction with salaries.

According to the survey, which was conducted by the IOF Personnel Division, there has been a significant decrease in the willingness of permanent officers to stay.

Only 42% responded positively to whether they wanted to continue their service, compared to 49% in August 2023. However, the decrease in motivation is further evidenced by another factor discussed within the ACA: the increase in the number of referrals by officers to the IOF's retirement department during the war.

'Settlers lose trust in Netanyahu, Israeli government'

On Tuesday, The New York Times reported that the October 7 events shattered the confidence of Israeli settlers in "Israel" and that the year of war that followed has deepened internal divisions within Israeli society.

The newspaper emphasized that Netanyahu’s declared objective of destroying Hamas remains distant, despite the extensive destruction in Gaza.

It also highlighted that many Israelis are seeking answers as to why the government was so absent during these critical moments, a collapse that has undermined the long-held belief that it would always be there to protect them.

Furthermore, it pointed out that Israeli settlers feel that their government has abandoned them.

According to the newspaper, many Israelis believe that the failure to secure the return of captives has torn apart the mutual responsibility contract, a core pillar of the Zionist movement, which asserts that Jews have a shared obligation to support and care for one another.