Israel finds itself in an unprecedented situation due to its conflict with Gaza and the West Bank, coinciding with increasing international pressure, both official and grassroots, which threatens to lead the country toward division and isolation.
Reports from Israeli and American media indicate that a growing number of reservists in the Israeli military are refusing to take part in the war, labeling it as “unethical” and “lacking a clear objective.” Some soldiers have voiced concerns about becoming involved in actions that could be viewed as war crimes, reflecting a deeper rift within the military establishment. The Palestinian news agency “Ma’an” reported a rise in both current and former soldiers, including high-ranking officers, openly expressing their dissent against the continuation of the conflict, contending that it is driven by political motives rather than ethical considerations. Reservist Yoav Ben Ari, who has served two tours in Gaza, stated to NBC, “I refuse to commit war crimes… true patriotism is saying no.”
He further added, “As an Israeli and as a human being, I call on the Israeli government to stop starving two million people,” expressing feelings of shame and guilt over the suffering endured by those in Gaza.
Ben Ari’s stance is not isolated, as NBC reported numerous soldiers expressing varied opinions on the matter. Since the breakdown of the ceasefire in March, over 12,000 reservists and active duty soldiers have signed letters urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the war, declaring their intention to refuse service if it continues, according to the group “Restart Israel,” which monitors governmental opposition.
Cultural Uprising
The wave of dissent against the war is also evident among Israeli writers and intellectuals. In a significant protest action as part of broader cultural movements opposing the conflict, 160 Israeli authors and intellectuals signed a public statement against the war in Gaza, under the title: “Netanyahu is not Israel—his government does not represent us.”
The statement reads: “A war without political goals is a deceptive war. A conflict in which over 15,600 children have died is not an ethical war; it bears a black flag. This war contradicts the will and values of the majority of Israeli society. The Prime Minister does not possess a moral mandate to continue. We are determined to defend Israeli democracy and preserve hope for both peoples.”
Among the signatories are prominent Israeli authors such as David Grossman, Yehudit Katzir, Yahshua Sobol, Orly Castel-Bloom, Dorit Rabinyan, Tsruya Shalev, Sami Berdugo, and others. This message was communicated to international media by poet Ilan Shainfeld, one of the leaders of this anti-war literary movement. This new statement continues a series of prior initiatives by the “Protest of Writers and Poets” movement, which organized a letter signed by about 300 writers and intellectuals in April calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the release of prisoners.
Diplomatic Tsunami
The internal divisions within Israel coincide with an uptick in international criticism of the country. Experts assert that the diplomatic situation remains salvageable, despite an emerging “silent rift” that is beginning to affect its international standing, as noted in a report by the Hebrew newspaper “Haaretz.”
This is reflected in the diminished representation at the international conference on combating anti-Semitism, hosted by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in Jerusalem, which was attended by foreign ministers from only four countries (Norway, Hungary, Albania, and Moldova), along with two ministers from Estonia and the Czech Republic. In contrast, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio opted for a recorded message, with most European countries absent or represented at low levels.