Over 11,000 Israelis Urge Netanyahu to End the Gaza War

More than 11,000 Israelis including reserve troops, veterans, academics, educators, medical workers, and public figures have signed multiple petitions urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately cease hostilities in Gaza and ensure the release of Israeli captives.

These petitions, reported by Israeli media, reflect only part of the broader wave of public opposition building across Israeli society.

Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have reportedly added their voices to two new petitions demanding an end to the Gaza war and calling for the safe return of prisoners from the enclave. This internal protest has gained backing from prisoners’ families, prominent ministers, former military leaders, academics, activists, and opposition politicians.

According to Walla News, the petitions accuse Netanyahu of undermining law enforcement, threatening officials' safety, and trying to block corruption investigations involving himself and his allies. Signatories also expressed concern over a deepening crisis within the army.

Hundreds of reservists from key intelligence and special operations units, including Unit 8200 and the Offensive Cyber Unit, have joined the campaign to stop the war. On Tuesday, over 200 Navy soldiers and veterans submitted a petition urging the return of hostages even if it means ending the conflict.

About 150 members of the elite Golani Brigade echoed this stance in a similar letter. Over just 48 hours, momentum grew as thousands more including Air Force reservists and pilots joined calls for a ceasefire and the release of captives.

Support also came from 1,525 members of the Armored Corps, 1,600 Paratrooper and Infantry veterans, 150 former Navy officers, 100 military doctors, and thousands of reservists from diverse units. By Monday, some 1,000 Air Force reservists and retirees, including active pilots, had also signed the letter.

Civilians followed suit: 3,500 academics, 3,000 educators, and more than 1,000 parents signed petitions urging an end to the war and demanding the captives' return.

Following this pressure, soldiers from the Golani Brigade voiced their support for the Air Force letter issued on April 9, backing the release of captives even if it requires halting the war.

Military and Political Repercussions

These protests prompted Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir to hold emergency discussions. As reported by Channel 12, army officials worry about the long-term effects of this unrest. The military has since taken steps to prevent reserve troops from joining protests and accused some of misusing army symbols for political purposes.

Despite affirming that military operations in Gaza are still backed by top officials, the army acknowledged concerns about growing internal fractures. Authorities are expected to engage with signatories to deescalate tensions.

Meanwhile, according to KAN, a government official suggested that Israel may consider some compromises in negotiations but will not abandon the goal of dismantling Hamas.

Netanyahu told families of the captives that negotiations were ongoing but denounced the soldier-led petitions as insubordination, claiming they weaken national unity during a time of war. He and several ministers threatened to expel reservists who signed the petitions, calling the move a rebellious act.

Since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, Israel has mobilized approximately 360,000 reserve troops.