Latest news with #GuyPoran
Sky News AU
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Israeli Air Force pilots write letter to end the war
A group of Israeli Air Force personnel has organised an open letter campaign calling for the conflict between Israel and Gaza to end and for hostages to be released. Around 1,200 current and former Air Force pilots have signed this letter, including Retired Israeli Air Force pilot Guy Poran. 'We air force people demand the return of the hostages home without delay, even at the price of stopping the war immediately,' Mr Poran said. 'At this time, the war serves primarily political and personal interests and not security ones. Their campaign is growing, with other parts of the Israeli military starting their own open letter campaigns. The Israeli government insists the war must go on to destroy Hamas.
Arab News
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Protest letters from former Israeli soldiers lay bare profound rifts over brutal war
TEL AVIV: When nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force veterans signed an open letter last week calling for an end to the war in Gaza, the military responded immediately, saying it would dismiss any active reservist who signed the document. But in the days since, thousands of retired and reservist soldiers across the military have signed similar letters of support. The growing campaign, which accuses the government of perpetuating the war for political reasons and failing to bring home the remaining hostages, has laid bare the deep division and disillusionment over Israel's fighting in Gaza. By spilling over into the military, it has threatened national unity and raised questions about the army's ability to continue fighting at full force. It also resembles the bitter divisions that erupted in early 2023 over the government's attempts to overhaul Israel's legal system, which many say weakened the country and encouraged Hamas' attack later that year that triggered the war. 'It's crystal clear that the renewal of the war is for political reasons and not for security reasons,' said Guy Poran, a retired pilot who was one of the initiators of the air force letter. The catalyst for the letters was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision on March 18 to return to war instead of sticking to a ceasefire that had facilitated the release of some hostages. In their letters, the protesters have stopped short of refusing to serve. And the vast majority of the 10,000 soldiers who have signed are retired in any case. Nonetheless, Poran said their decision to identify themselves as ex-pilots was deliberate — given the respect among Israel's Jewish majority for the military, especially for fighter pilots and other prestigious units. Tens of thousands of academics, doctors, former ambassadors, students, and high-tech workers have signed similar letters of solidarity in recent days, also demanding an end to the war. 'We are aware of the relative importance and the weight of the brand of Israeli Air Force pilots and felt that it is exactly the kind of case where we should use this title in order to influence society,' said Poran.
NBC News
12-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Israel's army says it will fire air force reservists who condemned war in Gaza
Israel's military said Friday it will fire air force reservists who signed an open letter that condemns the war in Gaza for mainly serving political interests while failing to bring home the hostages. In a statement to The Associated Press, an army official said there was no room for any individual, including reservists on active duty, 'to exploit their military status while simultaneously participating in the fighting,' calling the letter a breach of trust between commanders and subordinates. The army said it had decided that any active reservist who signed the letter will not be able to continue serving. It did not specify how many people that included or if the firings had begun. Nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists and retirees signed the letter, published in Israeli media Thursday, demanding the immediate return of the hostages, even at the cost of ending the fighting. The letter comes as Israel has ramped up its offensive in Gaza, trying to increase pressure on Hamas to return the 59 hostages still being held. More than half are presumed dead. Israel has imposed a blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle. It has pledged to seize large parts of the Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor through it. While those who signed the letter did not refuse military service, they are the latest in a growing number of Israeli soldiers speaking out against the prolonged conflict, some saying they saw or did things that crossed ethical lines. 'It's completely illogical and irresponsible on behalf of the Israeli policy makers … risking the lives of the hostages, risking the lives of more soldiers and risking lives of many, many more innocent Palestinians, while it had a very clear alternative,' Guy Poran, a retired Israeli Air Force pilot who spearheaded the letter told The AP. He said he's not aware of anyone who signed the letter being fired, and since it was published, it has gained dozens more signatures. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed the letter on Friday, saying it was written by a 'small handful of weeds, operated by foreign-funded (non-governmental organizations) whose sole goal is to overthrow the right-wing government.' He said anyone who encourages refusal will be immediately dismissed. Soldiers are required to steer clear of politics, and they rarely speak out against the army. After Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel quickly united behind the war launched against the militant group. Divisions here have grown as the war progresses, but most criticism has focused on the mounting number of soldiers killed and the failure to bring home hostages, not actions in Gaza. Freed hostages and their families are doing what they can to keep attention on their plight and urge the government to get everyone out. Agam Berger, a military spotter who was taken hostage and freed in January, plans to join an upcoming March of the Living Ceremony at the sites of former Nazi concentration camps in Poland. Berger, playing a 130-year-old violin that survived the Holocaust, will be accompanied by Daniel Weiss, a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri whose parents were killed by Hamas. But the war ignited by that attack shows no signs of slowing. Since Israel ended an eight-week ceasefire last month, it said it will push farther into Gaza until Hamas releases the hostages. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed, according to the United Nations. The Israeli military on Friday issued an urgent warning to residents in several neighborhoods in northern Gaza, calling on them to evacuate immediately. At least 26 people have been killed and more than 100 others wounded in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Palestinians lined up at a charity kitchen Friday in central Gaza said shortages of food, fuel and other essentials are worsening. 'There is no flour or gas or wood. Everything is expensive and there is no money,' said Reem Oweis, a displaced woman from al-Mughraqa in south Gaza, waiting in line for a serving of rice, the only food available. 'I completely rely on charity kitchens. If those charity kitchens close, my children and I will die,' said another displaced woman, Nema Faragallah. Also this week, Brazil's Embassy in the West Bank said it had requested the immediate release of the body of a 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner who died in Israeli custody. A representative from Brazil's office in Ramallah, told the AP it was helping the family speed up the process to bring Walid Ahmad's body home. Ahmad had a Brazilian passport. According to an Israeli doctor who observed the autopsy, starvation was likely the primary cause of his death. Ahmad had been held for six months without being charged. He was extremely malnourished and also showed signs of inflammation of the colon and scabies, said a report written by Dr. Daniel Solomon, who watched the autopsy conducted by Israeli experts at the request of the boy's family.
Arab News
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Israel's army says it will fire air force reservists who condemned the war
TEL AVIV, Israel: Israel's military said Friday it will fire air force reservists who signed an open letter that condemns the war in Gaza for mainly serving political interests while failing to bring home the hostages. In a statement to The Associated Press, an army official said there was no room for any individual, including reservists on active duty, 'to exploit their military status while simultaneously participating in the fighting,' calling the letter a breach of trust between commanders and subordinates. The army said it had decided that any active reservist who signed the letter will not be able to continue serving. It did not specify how many people that included or if the firings had begun. Nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists and retirees signed the letter, published in Israeli media Thursday, demanding the immediate return of the hostages, even at the cost of ending the fighting. The letter comes as Israel has ramped up its offensive in Gaza, trying to increase pressure on Hamas to return the 59 hostages still being held. More than half are presumed dead. Israel has imposed a blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle. It has pledged to seize large parts of the Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor through it. While those who signed the letter did not refuse military service, they are the latest in a growing number of Israeli soldiers speaking out against the prolonged conflict, some saying they saw or did things that crossed ethical lines. 'It's completely illogical and irresponsible on behalf of the Israeli policy makers … risking the lives of the hostages, risking the lives of more soldiers and risking lives of many, many more innocent Palestinians, while it had a very clear alternative,' Guy Poran, a retired Israeli Air Force pilot who spearheaded the letter told The AP. He said he's not aware of anyone who signed the letter being fired, and since it was published, it has gained dozens more signatures. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed the letter on Friday, saying it was written by a 'small handful of weeds, operated by foreign-funded (non-governmental organizations) whose sole goal is to overthrow the right-wing government.' He said anyone who encourages refusal will be immediately dismissed. Soldiers are required to steer clear of politics, and they rarely speak out against the army. After Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel quickly united behind the war launched against the militant group. Divisions here have grown as the war progresses, but most criticism has focused on the mounting number of soldiers killed and the failure to bring home hostages, not actions in Gaza. Advocates for hostage return keep up the pressure Freed hostages and their families are doing what they can to keep attention on their plight and urge the government to get everyone out. Agam Berger, a military spotter who was taken hostage and freed in January, plans to join an upcoming March of the Living Ceremony at the sites of former Nazi concentration camps in Poland. Berger, playing a 130-year-old violin that survived the Holocaust, will be accompanied by Daniel Weiss, a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri whose parents were killed by Hamas. But the war ignited by that attack shows no signs of slowing. Since Israel ended an eight-week ceasefire last month, it said it will push farther into Gaza until Hamas releases the hostages. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed, according to the United Nations. The Israeli military on Friday issued an urgent warning to residents in several neighborhoods in northern Gaza, calling on them to evacuate immediately. At least 26 people have been killed and more than 100 others wounded in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Palestinians lined up at a charity kitchen Friday in central Gaza said shortages of food, fuel and other essentials are worsening. 'There is no flour or gas or wood. Everything is expensive and there is no money,' said Reem Oweis, a displaced woman from Al-Mughraqa in south Gaza, waiting in line for a serving of rice, the only food available. 'I completely rely on charity kitchens. If those charity kitchens close, my children and I will die,' said another displaced woman, Nema Faragallah. Brazil pushes for the release of body of teen who died in Israeli custody Also this week, Brazil's Embassy in the West Bank said it had requested the immediate release of the body of a 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner who died in Israeli custody. A representative from Brazil's office in Ramallah, told the AP it was helping the family speed up the process to bring Walid Ahmad's body home. Ahmad had a Brazilian passport. According to an Israeli doctor who observed the autopsy, starvation was likely the primary cause of his death. Ahmad had been held for six months without being charged. He was extremely malnourished and also showed signs of inflammation of the colon and scabies, said a report written by Dr. Daniel Solomon, who watched the autopsy conducted by Israeli experts at the request of the boy's family. Israel's prison service said it operates according to the law and all prisoners are given basic rights.
Asharq Al-Awsat
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel's Army Says It Will Fire Air Force Reservists Who Condemned Gaza War
Israel's military said Friday it will fire air force reservists who signed an open letter that condemns the war in Gaza for only serving political interests instead of bringing the hostages home. In a statement to The Associated Press, an army official said there was no room for any individual, including reservists on active duty, 'to exploit their military status while simultaneously participating in the fighting,' calling the letter a breach of trust between commanders and subordinates. The army said it had decided that any active reservist who signed the letter will not be able to continue serving. It did not specify how many people that included or if the firings had begun. Nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists and retirees signed the letter, published in Israeli media Thursday, demanding the immediate return of the hostages, even at the cost of ending the fighting. The letter comes as Israel ramps up its offensive in Gaza, trying to pressure Hamas to agree to free hostages, 59 of whom are still being held, more than half of which are dead. Israel's imposed a blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle. It has pledged to seize large parts of the Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor through it. While the soldiers who signed the letter didn't refuse to keep serving, it's part of a growing number of Israeli soldiers speaking out against the 18-month conflict, some saying they saw or did things that crossed ethical lines. 'It's completely illogical and irresponsible on behalf of the Israeli policy makers ... risking the lives of the hostages, risking the lives of more soldiers and risking lives of many, many more innocent Palestinians, while it had a very clear alternative,' Guy Poran, a retired Israeli Air Force pilot who spearhead the letter told The AP. He said he's not aware of anyone who signed the letter being fired, and since it was published, it has gained dozens more signatures. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed the letter on Friday, saying it was written by a 'small handful of weeds, operated by foreign-funded NGOs whose sole goal is to overthrow the right-wing government.' He said anyone who encourages refusal will be immediately dismissed. Soldiers are required to steer clear of politics, and they rarely speak out against the army. After Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel quickly united behind the war launched against the group. Divisions here have grown as the war progresses, but most criticism has focused on the mounting number of soldiers killed and the failure to bring home hostages, not actions in Gaza. The war in Gaza shows no signs of slowing. Since Israel ended an eight-week ceasefire last month, it said it will push further into Gaza until Hamas releases the hostages. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed, according to the United Nations. The Israeli military on Friday issued an urgent warning to residents in several neighborhoods in northern Gaza, calling on them to evacuate immediately. At least 26 people have been killed and more than 100 others wounded in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Palestinians lined up at a charity kitchen Friday in central Gaza said shortages of food, fuel and other essentials are worsening. 'There is no flour or gas or wood. Everything is expensive and there is no money," said Reem Oweis, a displaced woman from al-Mughraqa in south Gaza, waiting in line for a serving of rice, the only food available. 'I completely rely on charity kitchens. If those charity kitchens close, my children and I will die,' said another displace woman, Nema Faragallah. Also this week, Brazil's Embassy in the West Bank said it had requested the immediate release of the body of a 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner who died in Israeli custody. A representative from Brazil's office in Ramallah, told the AP it was helping the family speed up the process to bring Walid Ahmad's body home. Ahmad had a Brazilian passport. According to an Israeli doctor who observed the autopsy, starvation was likely the primary cause of his death. Ahmad had been held for six months without being charged. He was extremely malnourished and also showed signs of inflammation of the colon and scabies, said a report written by Dr. Daniel Solomon, who watched the autopsy, conducted by Israeli experts, at the request of the boy's family. Israel's prison service said it operates according to the law and all prisoners are given basic rights.
