Emerging anti-war coalition in Israel, comprised of active and retired military personnel
The war in Gaza, now in its 688th day, continues with intense Israeli military operations, particularly in Gaza City. The city is facing devastating destruction, with large-scale destruction of residential areas and heavy fighting in neighborhoods such as Sabra and Az Zaytoun [1][2].
Israeli forces are pushing deeper into Gaza City as part of a plan for a wider offensive, with tens of thousands of reservists expected to be called up starting September 2nd to reinforce the military efforts. However, the exact number of soldiers refusing to serve due to moral or strategic concerns remains unclear in the latest updates [2].
Notable among those refusing service is Ron Finer, a former reservist tank commander who has fought four tours in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Finer, a member of Soldiers for Hostages, a group of reservists opposed to the continued fighting in Gaza, stated that the fighting needs to end for more people to come home [1].
Other reservists have taken more drastic measures. Several have gone to prison for refusing to serve in the Gaza conflict, and some have camped outside the main rehabilitation center overseen by Israel's defense ministry, petitioning to have mental trauma officially recognized as a wartime injury [1].
The Israeli military's long war in Gaza has already cost the country tens of billions of dollars and the lives of nearly 900 service members [1]. The war has also taken a heavy toll on the mental health of soldiers, with seven known cases of suicide among soldiers in July alone, mostly among those who recently returned from fighting in Gaza [1].
Omar Amsalam, a former soldier who fought in the 2014 Gaza war, poignantly stated, "We don't walk around with a tag saying 'combat veteran with PTSD.' We have arms, we have legs - but we are amputees of the soul, and that's something you can't see." [1]
Nadav Weiman works with Breaking the Silence, an organization run by former Israeli soldiers which collects testimonies about Israel's occupation of the West Bank and the war in Gaza. The organization is getting twice as many anonymous tips as before the war, mostly from soldiers fighting in Gaza who are troubled by what they are witnessing or being asked to do [1].
The situation in Gaza City has prompted international calls for a ceasefire. UN officials have urged for an end to the violence, citing the devastating impact on civilians and urban areas [1]. Agamit Gelb, a mother of soldiers, marched south around the Nahal Oz kibbutz to call for a ceasefire, stating, "Our sons are fighting almost two years, and it must end now. [Fighting] doesn't bring back any hostage from Gaza right now, and it only kills more and more soldiers there." [1]
Over 600 former senior military and intelligence officials have signed an open letter asking President Trump to pressure Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza. The letter argues that Israel has already achieved its military aims in Gaza and should leave Gaza [1]. Over 1,000 reservists have signed a petition calling for the war in Gaza to end [1]. Matan Vilnai, a former major general, has signed the open letter, arguing that Israel should leave Gaza.
Despite these calls, Netanyahu has maintained the purpose of Israel's war in Gaza is to destroy Hamas and free hostages. However, two far-right ministers have explicitly stated that Gaza should be destroyed, Palestinians removed to another country, and Jewish people allowed to build settlements in Gaza again [1].
References: [1] Associated Press. (2025, August 1). Soldiers for Hostages: Israeli reservists refuse to serve in Gaza. The Jerusalem Post. [2] Reuters. (2025, August 15). Israel calls up tens of thousands of reservists for Gaza offensive. The Guardian.
- The Israeli military's long war in Gaza has raised concerns among several ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investors, given the potential financial risks and value loss due to the escalating conflict.
- In the wake of the ongoing war in Gaza, some financial institutions have reconsidered their credit position regarding Israeli bonds, citing increased political and general-news risks.
- Omar Amsalam, a former soldier who fought in the 2014 Gaza war, emphasized the need to address the mental health issues among soldiers, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he described as an invisible injury.
- Some Israelis, such as Agamit Gelb, a mother of soldiers, have become advocates for peace, calling for a ceasefire and an end to the war in Gaza, worried about the lives of their children and the longer-term impact on the entire nation.
- Owing to the intense fighting in Gaza, concerns have been raised about the welfare of civilians, particularly Palestinians, who face destruction of their residential areas and heavy fighting in neighborhoods.
- The ongoing war in Gaza, with its high humanitarian cost and increasing military expenses, has led numerous former military officials and reservists to call for an end to the conflict, fearing its detrimental long-term effects on both Israeli society and the region as a whole.
