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Retired pilots protest Gaza war
Hundreds of former air force officers gather outside Israel's Defense Ministry to call for an end to the Gaza war.
Hundreds of former air force reservists rally to oppose a new Gaza operation, signaling depth of military establishment concerns.
Hundreds of Retired Israeli Air Force Officers Protest Gaza War
Hundreds of retired Israeli Air Force pilots gathered outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv to oppose the cabinet’s plan to seize Gaza City as the war in Gaza continues. The group, known as 555, held banners calling for an end to the fighting and the release of hostages. Speakers questioned the equilibrium between military action and civilian consequences, arguing that the war has lasting moral costs for Israeli society. Notable participants included Dan Halutz, a former chief of staff, who challenged the view that Hamas remains an existential threat and urged a reconsideration of strategy. Hagai Katz, famed for a role in the 1981 air strike on Iraq, echoed doubts about promises of a decisive victory through military pressure. Public polling cited in coverage shows broad support for ending the Gaza war in exchange for hostages, complicating political calculus for the government. Officials have warned that a raid on Gaza City could risk the lives of the remaining hostages and affect regional dynamics, while universities have signaled upcoming strikes that could heighten domestic pressure. Emily Feng contributed from Tel Aviv.
Key Takeaways
"Who among the senior commanders in the IDF believes Hamas is a strategic threat we can't defend against? I do not believe there is such a person."
Daniel Halutz addressing the crowd at the protest.
"The war has run its course. Gaza is destroyed structurally and humanly. There is no army there."
Halutz speaking about Gaza’s state.
"If the president had listened to Biden and ended the war a year and a half ago, things would look different today."
Halutz on past policy choices.
"We got promises from Netanyahu almost two years ago that only military pressure will eventually be effective."
Hagai Katz recounting statements from leaders.
The protest highlights a rare friction inside Israel’s security establishment. Veterans who once championed decisive action now press for a pause or a shift in strategy, signaling that concerns about civilian harm and moral costs are becoming mainstream within elite circles. The moment risks hardening political fault lines, as public opinion moves toward ending the war while the government leans on a military solution. If veteran voices gain traction, they could influence policy beyond the current cabinet term, especially amid parallel student labor actions and broader moral debates about civilian casualties. The challenge for policymakers will be to translate such dissent into a credible plan that protects hostages and maintains regional deterrence without eroding public trust.
Highlights
- Gaza is destroyed structurally and humanly
- The war has run its course
- We heard it again and again
- Promises from leaders repeat the same pattern
Political and security backlash risk
The protest reflects deep concerns within the defense establishment about ongoing military actions in Gaza and could influence public opinion and political pressure. The emergence of veteran dissent alongside student strikes could complicate government efforts to maintain a unified policy and affect future security budgeting and messaging.
The debate over how to balance security aims with humanitarian costs will shape policy in the weeks to come.
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