Around 200 retired and reserve Israeli Air Force pilots gathered outside the Israel Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening, demanding an immediate hostage deal and strongly criticizing the government’s decision to capture Gaza City. The former pilots warned that the move puts both hostages and soldiers at greater risk.
The protest took place at the Kirya military base just days after the cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City, with some ministers reportedly considering a full occupation of the Gaza Strip. The decision has sparked concern among military experts and families of hostages, who fear it could worsen the situation and damage Israel’s image internationally.
During the demonstration, protesters read a letter from Tami Arad, the wife of missing IAF navigator Ron Arad, who disappeared in 1986 after ejecting over Lebanon. In her letter, she urged leaders to act quickly to save the captives, calling the Gaza occupation plan a “death trap” that ignores the urgent need for a hostage deal.
Former IDF chief Dan Halutz addressed the crowd, calling for an end to what he described as “an unnecessary war” and warning against policies driven by extremism. Reservist pilot Guy Poran compared the situation to the biblical story of the Binding of Isaac, urging leaders not to sacrifice soldiers’ lives when the objectives are unclear and public opinion is against it.
The pilots issued a joint statement saying the war is taking an “unbearable toll” on the remaining 50 captives, with 20 believed alive and 28 confirmed dead. They warned that the military operation risks more soldiers’ lives, harms civilians in Gaza, and is damaging Israel’s standing around the world.
The Israeli government has said it will only agree to a comprehensive deal that secures the release of all hostages, rejecting partial agreements. International mediators are now working to revive negotiations between Israel and Hamas in hopes of reaching a breakthrough.
