Israel Dismisses 15 Air Force Officers Over Gaza War Petition

Reports state that the dismissed officers, ranging in rank from brigadier general to lieutenant colonel, had served in various reserve positions since the October 7, 2023 conflict. Their petition called for ending the war and prioritizing an agreement to free captives. Israeli media said 17 more reserve personnel who signed the petition were temporarily suspended, though some were reinstated after withdrawing their signatures.

The newspaper added that one of the highest-ranking signatories, serving at the Air Force Academy, was suspended from reserve duty until further notice. The officers argued in their petition to the court that the dismissals were collective, arbitrary, and executed without proper legal proceedings.

Growing Military And Civil Protests

The dismissals come amid a wave of dissent within Israel’s security forces. On April 11, around 1,000 reservists and retired Air Force personnel signed a letter calling for a ceasefire and prisoner release deal, joined by 150 former naval officers and dozens of army veterans. Other protests saw participation from intelligence officers, active-duty soldiers, and members of Israel’s Unit 8200.

Civil society groups and more than 2,000 academics also joined demonstrations demanding a halt to the conflict, even if it required a prisoner swap. Paratroopers, infantry veterans, and over 1,600 former soldiers endorsed similar petitions, underscoring deepening divisions over the war’s continuation and the government’s refusal to sign a prisoner exchange agreement.