Overview

• 472 former Israeli special forces soldiers, including 135 active reservists, signed a letter urging the government to prioritize hostage release over military objectives in Gaza.
• The letter describes the release of hostages as Israel's most pressing moral obligation, warning that continued captivity undermines the nation's ethical foundations.
• Hamas maintains its demand for an end to the Gaza conflict as a precondition for further hostage releases, complicating negotiation efforts.
• Civil society groups, including 1,700 artists, 350 authors, and 600 technical professionals, have issued public statements calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.
• Growing numbers of Israeli reservists are refusing to participate in the Gaza war, citing objections to military actions and concerns over a potential reoccupation of the region.