Veteran Israeli Soldiers, Ex-Mossad Officials Join Growing Protest against Gaza War
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A wave of internal dissent against the continuation of Gaza war has reached Israel’s top security institutions, with over 1,600 army veterans, former Mossad officers, and military intelligence elites publicly calling for an end to the fighting and the return of Israeli captives.
More than 1,600 Israeli army veterans from paratrooper and infantry units have signed a petition addressed to the regime’s political leadership, demanding an end to the Gaza war and the immediate return of captives, according to Haaretz.
The protest, which follows earlier dissent from nearly 1,000 Israeli air force reservists and pilots, marks an escalating internal crisis for Israel’s military establishment.
The Times of Israel reported that over 250 former Mossad officials have endorsed the army veterans’ call, urging the government to prioritize a prisoner exchange deal to secure the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza.
“The call we are making represents a step that must be taken now,” said former Mossad director Avraham Halevy, who signed the letter.
He added, “Those signing this document were once representatives of Benjamin Netanyahu. He will remember that we once represented him.”
In a related development, more than 170 alumni from the elite “Talpiot” program — a classified military training initiative under the Israeli military intelligence directorate (Aman) — have joined the growing calls to halt the war and focus on freeing the captives, according to Army Radio.
The Talpiot program, managed by Aman, selects and trains top-tier officers in intelligence, technology, and strategy.
Separately, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli military chief of staff Herzi Halevi has warned political leaders of a severe manpower shortage within the military.
Military analyst Yoav Zitun said Halevi told the Israeli cabinet that the current security strategy is heavily reliant on active combat forces, while the broader political process remains stalled.
“Eyal Zamir hopes to defeat Hamas through massive ground operations before a ceasefire,” Zitun said.
“However, the army estimates that fully occupying Gaza could take months or even years and would require the recall of thousands of reservists.”
Hebrew media noted that the lack of success in the war and the failure to bring back the captives —despite over a year and a half of fighting—have caused the protests to spread from the streets into the ranks of the military and key security institutions.
Following the uproar sparked by last week’s petition from air force reservists, additional military units have joined the protest.
According to Israeli media, 150 more soldiers from various units have signed the petition, aligning themselves with the air force’s call to end the war and recover the hostages.
Hundreds of reservists from Unit 8200, Israel’s elite intelligence unit, have also joined the protest.
Last Thursday, nearly 1,000 Israeli air force pilots and reservists signed a petition published in national newspapers, declaring their opposition to the war in Gaza.
“We, the former and current reservists of the Israeli Air Force, demand the immediate return of the Israeli hostages from Gaza without delay — even if the price is ending the war,” the petition stated.
“This war serves political and personal interests of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu more than Israel’s security interests.”
“It is not achieving any of the declared goals,” it concluded.
