The Israeli army announced that it would dismiss reserve soldiers who condemn the war in Gaza.

The retired Israeli Air Force pilot Guy Poran, who led the letter, said, "It is completely irrational and irresponsible to risk the lives of hostages, soldiers, and many more innocent Palestinians when there is a very clear alternative for Israeli policymakers."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it would dismiss air force reservists who signed a letter condemning the war in Gaza, claiming that the letter served only political interests and did not help bring the hostages held by Hamas home. An army official stated that there is no place for any individual, including active reservists, to "exploit their military status while simultaneously participating in conflict." He described this as a breach of trust between commanders and subordinates. The IDF declared that any active reservist who signed the letter would no longer be able to continue their service. It was not specified how many were involved or whether the dismissals had begun. About 1,000 reservists serving in the Israeli Air Force signed a letter published in local media on Thursday, demanding the immediate return of hostages, even at the expense of ending the conflicts. Although the soldiers who signed the letter did not refuse to continue their duties, some stated that they had witnessed or done things that crossed ethical boundaries. This is part of an increasing wave of dissent from Israeli service personnel against the conflict that has been ongoing for 18 months. Guy Poran, the retired Israeli Air Force pilot who led the letter, said, "It is completely irrational and irresponsible to risk the lives of hostages, soldiers, and many more innocent Palestinians when there is a very clear alternative for Israeli policymakers." Poran also added that he did not know if any of the signatories had been dismissed. According to Poran, since the letter was published, dozens more signatures have been collected. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the letter on Friday, claiming it was written by "a handful of fringe weeds managed by foreign-funded NGOs whose sole aim is to overthrow the right-wing government." Netanyahu announced that anyone encouraging refusal would be immediately dismissed. IDF soldiers are required to stay away from politics and rarely speak about the army or operations. The letter came during a time when Israel was increasing its attacks on Gaza and trying to pressure Hamas to agree to release 59 hostages, more than half of whom are believed to be dead. Civilians in the Gaza Strip are facing severe shortages due to Israel's blockade on food, fuel, and humanitarian aid. Israel aims to seize a large part of Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor cutting across the region. After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, the country quickly united behind the war launched against the militant group. However, as the war progressed, divisions increased, with much of the criticism focusing on the rising number of soldiers killed and the non-return of hostages.

Pressure for the release of hostages is mounting. Released hostages and their families are doing everything they can to draw attention to their dire situation and encourage the government to bring the remaining captives home. Meanwhile, the war against Hamas shows no signs of stopping. Since Israel ended an eight-week ceasefire last month, Hamas has stated that it will not enter Gaza further until hostages are released. According to the United Nations, more than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire was broken in March. The IDF issued an urgent warning on Friday to residents of certain neighborhoods in northern Gaza, calling for them to evacuate the area immediately. Health officials reported that at least 23 people, including eight women and eight children, were killed in attacks earlier this week.