Overview

• The Israeli military has dismissed both active and retired Air Force reservists who signed an open letter calling for an immediate ceasefire to secure the release of hostages in Gaza.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top officials condemned the reservists, describing their actions as extremist and harmful to national security during wartime.
• The letter, signed by nearly 1,000 reservists, criticized the war as serving political rather than security interests and warned of risks to hostages, soldiers, and civilians.
• Recent polling indicates that around 70% of Israelis prioritize ending the war to facilitate hostage negotiations, highlighting a growing divide between public sentiment and government policy.
• The dismissals are part of broader efforts by the Israeli military to suppress internal dissent and maintain unity during prolonged military operations.