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Nanjeanne

(6,294 posts)
Sun Jul 13, 2025, 05:18 PM Jul 13

From Haaretz: IDF Soldiers Who Refuse to Fight in Gaza: 'This War Had Crossed Every Moral, Security and Ethical Boundary

The stories of five soldiers - courageous people speaking out. I'm sure this OP will go over like a lead balloon since it's one of bravery and truth. But I'll continue to read and applaud those who take stands for humanity.

The Gaza Refuseniks: In a rare act of dissent, five Israeli reserve soldiers speak out about why they refuse to fight in Gaza – and demand an end to Netanyahu's destructive war. 'I know the only goal of this war is the government's survival – at the cost of thousands of Gazan children, the hostages, the soldiers, and our collective safety.' A special photography project by Yahel Gazit


I encourage those interested to click on the free link to read the stories of

Ron Feiner, 26
Lives in Haifa
I'm 26, a student of philosophy, politics and economics at the University of Haifa, and I work in education. During the war, I served as an infantry platoon commander for 270 days, split over three different periods – the first two on the Lebanese border, and the third in Lebanon itself. When I was called up a fourth time, after a long and difficult internal struggle, I chose not to show up.


Michal Deutsch, 30
Lives in Jerusalem
'Today I refuse to take part in the IDF in any role. I know the sole aim of this war is the government's survival.'


Yotam Vilk, 30
Lives in Tel Aviv
But as time went on, I realized that this war had crossed every moral, security and ethical boundary. I realized I could no longer remain silent in the face of the abandonment [of the hostages], the endless destruction and the fact that the government was using us – soldiers, hostages and civilians – as political pawns.


Itamar Schwartz, 22
Lives in Jerusalem
This war could have ended. The unending slaughter of Gazans could have ended. The hostages could have already returned home.
Unless we stop and beg forgiveness from the Palestinian people and help them rebuild, the days of the State of Israel are numbered. It's that simple.
The war must end.


Daniel Rak-Yahalom, 32
Lives in Haifa
After two rounds of that, amounting to around 250 days of service, the Netanyahu government declared a new operation, officially throwing the hostages under the bus, and also saying the quiet part out loud: This war is part of the same political project that the settlement movement has been working toward for decades in the West Bank. With war crimes like these, and with the legitimacy of the war – returning the hostages – lost, I was left with no choice but to refuse to serve. I sat in a military prison for five days – a miniscule price to pay.


Read all their powerful words in the article in the link.
https://archive.is/5O5K8#selection-215.0-215.387]
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From Haaretz: IDF Soldiers Who Refuse to Fight in Gaza: 'This War Had Crossed Every Moral, Security and Ethical Boundary (Original Post) Nanjeanne Jul 13 OP
Waiting for someone to say the soldiers are antisemitic. Scrivener7 Jul 14 #1
Organization Founded in March 2004 by a group of soldiers who served Passages Jul 14 #2

Passages

(3,273 posts)
2. Organization Founded in March 2004 by a group of soldiers who served
Mon Jul 14, 2025, 09:07 AM
Jul 14
Breaking the Silence
https://www.breakingthesilence.org.il
The destruction–of–houses stage ... Over 50% of our funding last year came from foreign governmental entities. 100% of our testimonies came from soldiers who ...



On edit, I would appreciate it if our ICE teams had even half the courage as Breaking the Silence has had thus far.
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