'War must be stopped': Israeli fighter pilots to protest outside IDF's HQ, call for Gaza deal
Pilots in active reserve service and former pilots from the Israel Air Force are expected to hold a quiet demonstration on Tuesday outside the Kirya (military headquarters) in protest of the government's decision to approve the plan to expand the fighting in Gaza despite the opposition of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who warned that the plan would endanger the lives of the hostages.
The demonstration is expected to take place near the base's "Shaul" gate, near Hostage Square in the Tel Aviv Museum plaza. "The demonstration started from a very small initiative by a few former pilots and quickly gained momentum," a former veteran pilot who plans to participate in the protest told Walla.
"I believe that everything will pass peacefully. This is supposed to be a quiet demonstration, because anything related to pilots attracts attention. There will be mainly retired pilots there, but also those in reserves, as I understand it. They are allowed to demonstrate when they are not on duty and not in uniform. The war must be stopped and the hostages returned."
IAF urges Zamir not to give into political pressures
The veteran pilot also said that the purpose of the demonstration is to support Zamir.
"This is a demonstration of support for the chief of staff. Our message is simple. That he should stand by his principles in the spirit of the IDF against the government and not give in to political pressure. That he should not just go to war in Gaza. That soldiers should not just be killed. The war has exhausted itself. The demonstration will be very specific and will focus on the tension between the chief of staff and the government."
In April, hundreds of active and retired air force reservists published an advertisement in Israel Hayom, strongly calling for the return of the hostages from Gaza - even if this required an immediate cessation of fighting. "We demand the return of the hostages home without delay, even at the cost of stopping the fighting," the signatories wrote, adding that "the war serves political and personal interests, while only an agreement can bring back the hostages safely."
Internal IAF tensions over letter calling for returning hostages, ceasefire
IAF Commander Tomer Bar ordered the suspension of reserve service for the air force members who signed the letter. The army clarified that the main mission is to return the hostages and that the IDF must be kept out of any dispute. In addition, it was claimed that following a conversation between the air force commander and some of the signatories, some chose to withdraw their signatures.
It was further stated that it is unacceptable for reservist mission commanders to enter the command bunker, carry out a mission, and then leave and express a lack of confidence in that mission.
The names of those to be disqualified have not yet been submitted, as it is still unclear who among the signatories is retired and who is still in active service.
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