Fifteen additional Israeli soldiers have added their names to a letter stating their refusal to continue serving unless a hostage agreement is reached, Walla reports. With these new signatures, the total now stands at 138, which includes two current active members, one of whom is a woman.

While some soldiers have signed to indicate the conclusion of their service, others have expressed that they are nearing their limits.

The correspondence, directed to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and other officials, calls for an end to the conflict: “We, the reservists and active-duty soldiers, officers, and soldiers, hereby declare that we cannot continue like this. The war in Gaza sentences our brothers and sisters, the hostages, to death,” the letter reads.

“On that cursed day, October 7, we woke up to a horrific and indiscriminate massacre, where more than a thousand were murdered and hundreds were taken hostage. We immediately enlisted to fight, defend our country, and rescue the hostages held captive in Gaza. Today, it is clear that the continuation of the war in Gaza not only delays the return of the hostages from captivity but also endangers their lives: many hostages were killed by IDF bombings, many more than those saved in military operations to rescue them,” they added.

The letter does not mention a specific deadline for when they would cease their service, but they cautioned that such a moment is fast approaching. “We, who serve and have served with dedication, risking our lives, hereby declare that if the government does not change direction immediately and work to promote a deal to bring the hostages home, we will no longer be able to serve. For some of us, the red line has already been crossed; for others, it is approaching: the day is near when, with broken hearts, we will stop showing up for duty. We call on the government: sign now on a deal to save the lives of the hostages.”

Among the signers is a female lieutenant combat officer who has been actively engaged in recent combat. From the tragic events of October 7 to operations deep within Gaza, she felt her role was crucial. However, she now admits that her confidence has been shaken.

“At the start of the war, I rushed to the south, to the border towns with my battalion. We were part of all the horrors. I maneuvered in Gaza,” said the 23-year-old officer. “Where we are today as a country is not where we were a year ago. When I was in Gaza, I felt like we were going to bring the hostages back, eliminate Hamas, and do the most morally righteous thing possible. There was no doubt about it. I felt lucky to be doing my job and being part of the search for clues about the hostages.”

As negotiations repeatedly stalled, she began to question her environment. “There was a deal, there were supposed to be more deals—and all of those options were abandoned at the political level. When I heard over the radio the names of the hostages returning, we wrote their names on the walls of the houses, and that became our source of strength. No matter how little we slept or how many explosions and raids there were, that was the mission we gathered for. The thought that, as a commander, the government isn’t doing everything to bring them back raises doubts,” she admits. “I feel a crisis in my relationship with the state and the army.”

The officer is uncertain about the implications of her difficult decision. “I don’t have a set date after which I’ll say, ‘That’s it, I’m refusing.’ I’m not just a soldier; I’m an officer, a Zionist. It’s a tough dilemma. I command a unit of soldiers. It’s not like if I’m gone, everything will collapse, but I know that active-duty soldiers leaving the army over this issue could destabilize solid ground. Still, I stand behind this choice. I signed the letter, and I’ve decided that, no matter what, I will not extend my service,” she says.

The officer elaborated that the letter was meant to express a challenging position. “I love reading books about the founding of the state. Many times, I’ve asked myself, if I had lived back then, which organization would I have joined? The answer was always the one that had the most impact. If, at the moment of truth, when history is being written, we don’t take the big, unpopular step—who are we?” she reflects.

Despite her strong beliefs, she recognizes the potential consequences. “It’s possible that if I go through with this, I’ll be penalized—whether it’s through my salary or the service itself. It’s on my mind. Taking this path is not comfortable. But there’s nothing more important than following what you believe in. If my brother were a hostage—I’d want everyone to stop their lives for him.”

{Matzav.com Israel}