Dozens of reserve soldiers from the Israeli army's medical corps have refused to return to the Gaza Strip. According to The Times of Israel, they believe that the war is harming Israel's interests.
Israeli soldiers in Gaza
Photo: Israel Defense Forces
Medical personnel of various ranks, including doctors, paramedics, psychiatrists, and nurses, signed a letter refusing to fight. They described this as a decision made for ethical and legal reasons, stating that the conflict is “beyond any logic.”
According to the reserve soldiers, the war “harms the civilian population on both sides, Israel's social structure, and its long-term viability.” They also consider the plans to occupy the Gaza Strip and displace the local population as violations of international law.
Overall, this is not an isolated case. Instances of refusal to serve among Israeli soldiers are increasing. It is said to be a result of fatigue from the conflict that has been ongoing for 16 months, as well as dissatisfaction with the current government's domestic and foreign policies.
Israeli soldiers in the Gaza area with heavy armored vehicles
Photo: Israel Defense Forces
Israel's attack on Gaza
Since the second half of January, Israel and HAMAS had agreed to a truce regarding the exchange of hostages. However, as the parties could not reach a common agreement to continue negotiations, Netanyahu ordered the resumption of attacks on the enclave.
At the same time, testimonies began to emerge in reputable Western publications about the Israeli army committing war crimes against Palestinians.
