Forty-one Israeli soldiers declared Tuesday they would no longer serve in the military, condemning the war in Gaza as a genocide aimed at safeguarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future rather than ensuring Israel’s security or freeing hostages.
The soldiers from Israel's intelligence and cyber warfare units sent a signed letter to Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and other Cabinet members expressing their refusal, according to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth.
The signatories wrote under the heading "Soldiers for the Hostages" that the renewed military campaign in Gaza is not a "security decision but a political one."
They criticized the decision to expand military operations in the Strip, asserting that the aim is to "preserve the ruling coalition, not protect Israeli citizens.”
The soldiers said they would not participate in "Netanyahu’s survival war.” Some pledged to make their refusal public, while others promised to use quieter, "gray area” forms of protest.
