Over 150 former naval officers join airline pilots in claim war is blocking hostage release efforts

Some 150 officers from the navy sent a public letter this evening (Thursday) to the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, Knesset members and senior defense officials, in which they harshly criticized the state's conduct regarding the return of the hostages.

In the body of the letter, they wrote: "We, concerned citizens who have served and continue to serve as combat and operational officers in the Navy, grew up on the values of the IDF and the State and dedicated years of our lives to the defense of the homeland. We feel a deep urge to make our voices heard at this fateful time – 59 hostages are still in the Hamas tunnels, and the state is moving further and further away from its commitment to return them.

We call for an end to the war, a re-examination of policy and the integration of diplomatic measures to return the hostages."

Yesterday, in a dramatic and unprecedented decision, the Commander of the Air Force, with the backing of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, announced that any active officer who signed the letter of refusal in the Air Force would be immediately dismissed from service.

A few hours after the pilots' letter was published, calling for opposition to the continuation of the fighting in the Gaza Strip, and a call for a sweeping end to the war. The IDF's senior command made a final decision, announcing that any pilot and aircrew member who actively serves and signs the political letter will be immediately removed from his position and from serving in the IDF.