Israeli reservists tell NGO why they refuse to keep fighting in Gaza
“The vibe is ‘You can fire wherever you want,'” one Israeli reservist identified as Michael, an infantry control officer, told the NGO Breaking the Silence.
“You have to get permission, but there will be permission. It’s only bureaucratic. I can count on one hand the times when we were told: ‘You can’t fire there,'” he said, according to a threat posted on X.
Michael was among 42 Israeli reservists who signed a refusal to continue serving in Gaza, according to Breaking the Silence, an organisation of Israeli war veterans who gives serving and discharged Israeli personnel and reservists a means to confidentially recount their experiences in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The organisation said it was collecting the soldiers’ witness accounts to raise awareness among the Israeli public.
“It is our duty as Israelis to not look away from the policies which these soldiers have been sent to carry out in our name. To confront them head on, and end the madness,” it said.
42 IDF reservists who were sent to fight in Gaza since Oct. 7 signed a letter of refusal to continue serving. While many in Israel debate the legitimacy of refusal, barely any are dealing with the reality those soldiers described to @lizarozovsky of @haaretzcom last week🧵 pic.twitter.com/3RJJtIEXBn
— Breaking the Silence (@BtSIsrael) July 3, 2024
