Officers and militia: Defeating Hamas hinges on relocating Gaza's inhabitants
Israeli Reserve Soldiers Petition for Aggressive Gaza Policy
A group of Israeli reserve soldiers has petitioned the government, demanding a clear objective in the Gaza conflict: occupation, expulsion of Hamas, and the establishment of Jewish settlements. This petition, signed by soldiers from all branches of the IDF, including senior officers, represents a faction within the Israeli military advocating for a maximalist and expansionist approach to the Gaza conflict.
The petition is a call for a declaration of a clear war objective, with occupation, expulsion, and settlement as the only acceptable outcome. The soldiers, who have left families, children, and businesses to risk their lives in defending the country, believe this is the only way to achieve victory and ensure the security of Israeli citizens.
The petition states that they cannot remain silent when an agreement is on the table that they believe would endanger their security and lead to more massacres and abductions. Lt. Colonel (Res.) Boaz Kokia, a signatory and father of a terror victim, emphasizes the importance of Jewish settlement, stating that it is Zionism and that the State of Israel should start by planting the Israeli flag on the northern perimeter of Gaza.
Politically, this demand for escalation and territorial expansion within a highly contentious and internationally sensitive context has faced significant internal opposition. Other reserve soldiers and retired military officers, including senior former commanders, have publicly protested the plan, emphasizing the risks to Israeli security, the danger to hostages, and humanitarian concerns for Gaza civilians.
The IDF is expected to call up more reservists next week, but the Chief of Staff has promised that no more reservists will be called up. The soldiers, however, have stated that they will fight to the end until victory and settlement, and are demanding an end to euphemisms, stating that the defeat of Hamas requires full occupation, expulsion, and settlement.
Internationally, the plan to occupy Gaza and the expansionist demands by soldiers are widely criticized. The International Commission of Jurists warns that such an occupation will lead to further war crimes and crimes against humanity against Gaza’s civilian population. Humanitarian organizations like The Carter Center have condemned the occupation plan due to its catastrophic humanitarian consequences and the undermining of prospects for peace.
In summary, the petition by Israeli reserve soldiers advocating occupation, expulsion of Hamas, and Jewish settlement in Gaza is a significant development advocating for aggressive territorial and demographic changes, reflecting hardline political views within parts of Israel's defense establishment. It comes amid government plans for full military control of Gaza and faces both domestic and international opposition due to its grave security, legal, and humanitarian implications.
- The petition by the Israeli reserve soldiers, pushing for occupation, expulsion of Hamas, and Jewish settlement in Gaza, exemplifies a section within the political landscape that advocates for aggressive territorial and demographic shifts.
- The international community has strongly criticized the plan, with organizations like the International Commission of Jurists warning that such an occupation could lead to further war crimes and crimes against humanity against Gaza's civilian population.
