Tel aviv: About 200 Israeli army pilots staged a protest near the army's General Staff headquarters in Tel Aviv, opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to reoccupy the Gaza Strip. They expressed concerns about the risks posed to captives and soldiers in the enclave.
According to Anadolu Agency, the reservists and retiree pilots declared their support for Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who is against expanding the war and instead advocates for a deal to secure the release of captives from Gaza. The plan to reoccupy Gaza, approved by Israel's Security Cabinet, has sparked domestic protests, with critics dubbing it a 'death sentence' for the captives.
Israeli media have reported tensions between Zamir and Netanyahu since the proposal to reoccupy Gaza, which was under Israeli control from 1967 to 2005. The reoccupation plan involves forcing 1 million residents out of Gaza City to the south, encircling the city, and launching incursions into residential areas. The second stage would target central refugee camps, which have already suffered significant destruction.
Zamir has proposed an alternative 'siege plan' with multiple operational axes in Gaza to apply military pressure on Hamas and secure the release of captives without falling into 'strategic traps.' The pilots emphasized that the ongoing war in Gaza has taken a severe toll on the captives, who have been held for 676 days.
Tel Aviv estimates that 50 Israeli captives are in Gaza, including 20 alive. Over 10,800 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israel, facing torture, starvation, and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.
The protesting pilots argued that the war unnecessarily endangers soldiers, harms innocent civilians, and damages Israel's international standing. They called for an end to what they described as an 'unnecessary war of folly.'
In opposition to Netanyahu's plan, families of the captives and soldiers killed in Gaza announced plans for a nationwide strike on August 17. Companies and universities have also announced their intention to participate.
Israel is facing increasing condemnation for its actions in Gaza, which have resulted in nearly 61,600 deaths since October 2023. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.