Over 150 naval officers and dozens of doctors slam the government for prolonging war at hostages’ expense

More than 150 former Israeli Navy officers and dozens of reservist doctors have signed open letters demanding an immediate end to the war in Gaza, accusing the government of pursuing political self-interest at the cost of hostage lives and national security.

The retired naval officers’ letter, published Thursday and addressed to Israel’s leadership, issued a scathing indictment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wartime strategy. The officers charged that political calculations—not security imperatives—were driving the continuation of the Gaza campaign, which has now passed 550 days.

“Fifty-nine hostages remain in Hamas tunnels,” the letter states. “And the country moves further away from its duty to bring them home.” The officers warned that prolonging the war only distances the possibility of securing their release while endangering soldiers and harming innocent civilians.

While none of the letters encouraged refusal to serve, they follow a similarly damning statement earlier in the week by nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force veterans, including 60 active reservists. That group’s remarks triggered a fierce backlash from Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, with disciplinary action expected for active signatories.

In their message, the naval officers accused the government of eroding trust and violating democratic norms. “This conduct undermines the foundations of statesmanship,” they wrote. “Security decisions appear to be dictated by illegitimate considerations.”

Their letter also took aim at internal social divisions, specifically the controversial draft exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox. “The government is advancing a discriminatory policy… Those who serve feel betrayed,” the officers declared, concluding with a stern message: “We carry the burden. The responsibility is yours.”

Alongside them, dozens of IDF reservist doctors issued their own letter to Defence Minister Israel Katz and top military officials, echoing similar frustrations. “We, reservist doctors from various IDF units, demand the return of the hostages without delay and a cessation of fighting in Gaza,” their statement read.

These doctors emphasised their pride in stepping forward on October 7 when Hamas launched its deadly surprise attack on southern Israel. But they said the war’s continuation had now lost its justifiable purpose.

“After 550 days of fighting and immense loss, it is painfully clear that this conflict now serves political and personal interests,” they wrote, arguing that continued military operations place both soldiers and hostages at greater risk. “Forty hostages have already died during the ground campaign,” they noted.

They accused the Israeli government of effectively abandoning those still in captivity. “The continuation of the war, like leaving wounded soldiers on the battlefield, erodes the sanctity of life and our commitment to the security of the state.”

Both letters were published amid growing public protests demanding the release of the hostages. On April 5, demonstrators gathered outside the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem, waving placards and calling on Netanyahu to strike a deal to bring the hostages home.

In Tel Aviv, families of captives like Ziv and Gali Berman led fresh marches, urging urgent government action. Protesters have accused Netanyahu of exploiting the war to delay elections and protect his political survival, rather than prioritising national unity and life-saving diplomacy.

The latest wave of military dissent adds growing pressure to Israel’s leadership, which faces increasing scrutiny from its own veterans. While senior officials maintain the war is necessary to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities, critics argue that continued conflict only hardens Hamas’s leverage, placing the hostages further out of reach.

Whether the government will adjust course remains uncertain—but the voices of those who once wore the uniform grow louder by the day.