The Israel Defense Forces has permanently dismissed two reservists who threatened not to report for duty following Jerusalem’s launching of new strikes in Gaza, Hebrew media reported on Wednesday.
Michael Majer, an officer in the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate, was dismissed after writing on X, “The thing that will help the most right now to protect my people is to refuse to take part in fighting in the service of filthy traitors in complete contrast to the interests of the Israeli people.”
On Tuesday, Israeli Air Force navigator Alon Gur was dismissed over a social media post in which he wrote that the government was abandoning its own citizens, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of putting “cynical and cold political considerations” first.
“This morning, I broke down,” Gur wrote. “I met with my squadron commander and informed him that this is it. The line has been crossed.”
Early on Tuesday morning, the IDF launched “extensive” airstrikes against Hamas terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. The renewed Israeli military campaign has been officially named “Operation Strength and Sword.”
Netanyahu’s office said the military was acting after the Hamas terrorist organization rebuffed several proposals by U.S. Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff to extend the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire through the Ramadan and Passover holidays.
In 2023, thousands of Israeli reservists threatened to refuse to report for duty due to the government’s now-shelved judicial reform proposals.
Some 11,000 reservists, including 1,000 air force personnel, said they would refuse to serve in protest of the reform agenda, raising concerns about serious damage to the IDF’s ability to respond to threats.
In March 2023, Netanyahu described soldiers’ refusal to report for duty for political reasons as an existential threat, warning it “threatens the foundation of our existence, and it must have no place in our ranks.”
While then-Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi stressed that the IDF must remain outside political controversies, the military under his command did not take significant measures against those who threatened refusal.
