Israeli Forces Threaten to Leave Reserve Duty if Hostage Deal Not Settled

A contingent of Israeli soldiers has issued a warning that they will cease their reserve duty unless the occupation government takes action to facilitate a prisoner exchange agreement.

In a correspondence directed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant, 130 soldiers expressed that "the continuation of the conflict in Gaza not only postpones the return of the hostages but also jeopardizes their safety."

The correspondence further stated, "Should the government fail to alter its approach immediately and strive to secure a deal for the return of the hostages, we will be unable to fulfill our service obligations."

"For some among us, the threshold has already been surpassed, while for others, it is swiftly nearing: the moment when, with heavy hearts, we will cease to report for duty."

This group comprises both reserve and active-duty soldiers, many of whom have engaged in combat in Gaza and along the northern border since the onset of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation.

In August, the Israeli Occupation Forces reportedly warned their soldiers of potential legal action should they refuse to return to Gaza to continue the ongoing military operations, amidst a growing number of refusals in recent months.

It's worth mentioning that 20 soldiers from an infantry brigade have declined to return to Gaza, as reported by "Israel's" KAN public broadcaster, with around 10 of these soldiers receiving formal warnings indicating they would face prosecution for not complying with military directives.