Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: We witnessed new, stricter stances from European countries since signing new agreement with IAEA
Saree: Our UAV force targeted the so-called Ramon Airport in the Umm al-Rashrash area in southern occupied Palestine
YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: Our rocket force carried out an operation with a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile targeting a sensitive target in the occupied Yafa area
Trump administration clears first Ukraine arms aid package paid for by allies: Reuters, citing sources
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman receives Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani at his office in Al-Yamamah Palace
Wakim: Surrender is not in our dictionary, and it is not true that "Israel" can implement its project in Lebanon and the region
Wakim: The US is preventing the armament of the Lebanese army. The question is, why are the weapons it is handed over by the Resistance being destroyed?
Wakim: The Resistance is required to hand over its weapons to the [current] authority. The question is: Is this authority independent or subservient to America?

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
4 Min Read

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.

Listen
  • x
  • People protest on the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel and call for the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's house, in al-Quds on October 7, 2024.
    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. 

Related News

Israeli forces escalate Gaza City aggression, dozens martyred

Spain’s King Felipe VI decries Gaza residents 'unspeakable suffering'

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.

Read next: Israeli troops refusing to follow commands for Rafah ground invasion

  • Palestine
  • Israeli forces
  • captive deal
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation forces
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Britain Trained Israeli Soldiers Involved in Gaza War: Declassified
Europe

UK training of Israeli officers sparks outcry over Gaza war complicity

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Politics

Luxembourg to recognize Palestine at UN summit next week

European Union flags flap in the wind outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

EU exec. branch to adopt new sanctions against 'Israel' on Wednesday

Charlie Kirk killing suspect faces charges in Utah court hearing
US & Canada

Charlie Kirk murder suspect faces formal charges in Utah court hearing

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS