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Hundreds of Israeli reservists refuse Gaza deployment amid 'crisis of trust'

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 03 September 2025 9:39 AM

The Israeli military is reportedly grappling to find enough reserve forces for a planned invasion to occupy Gaza City, with hundreds of reservists warning not to report for duty as the "crisis of trust" deepens between the occupation army and the Tel Aviv regime.

Israeli media said the approximately 60,000 reserve duty call-up papers sent by the military last month would come into effect on Tuesday and thousands of the reserve forces were expected to report to their bases ahead of the offensive to seize Gaza City.

However, the occupation army fears a low turnout rate due to the burden, concern for the lives of the captives held by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and a lack of trust in the illegal regime.

The reports said most of the reservists have already served hundreds of days since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, and they are now required to serve an additional three months, with the possibility of a one-month extension depending on how the fighting in the Strip unfolds.

Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz said hundreds of Israeli soldiers had come out against the new invasion Gaza and threatened not to show up for service.

"This rotation is the toughest yet. Many feel conflicted over concerns for the hostages held by Hamas," reservists told paper, adding that they "do not believe" in the stated objectives of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's regime in capturing Gaza.

Senior officials cited by the Israeli newspaper also said there is a "crisis of trust" between Netanyahu's cabinet and the military, which is affecting the occupation army.

The report said the Israeli commanders in the reserves have been ordered to hold conversations and allow troops to express their opinions and feelings on the imminent attack to occupy Gaza City.

"We talk and say what we think, but there are no answers. I can't recall such a heavy feeling in previous tours. Even just from talking with the commanders, it's clear that we're going into a war that even the army doesn't want," one reservist told the newspaper.

"No one can tell me any fairy tales after 280 days of fighting in Gaza. I know Gaza, unfortunately. The conquest of Gaza has nothing to do with bringing back the hostages. Every one of us understands that."

Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir was reported to have gone to great lengths pressing Netanyahu over the danger the occupation plan poses to the captives held by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza.

Zamir also told Netanyahu that the offensive will put further unnecessary strain on Israeli troops after some 350 reservists signed a joint statement addressing the occupying regime.

"The decision to embark on an operation to finally occupy Gaza is clearly illegal and will put the hostages, soldiers, and civilians at risk. If we are called to reserve duty - we will not report. We will not obey any orders that are sent," said reservist Ron Feiner. "This is a political, cynical and dangerous step, designed to serve an extremist minority and not the security of Israeli" settlers.

Another anonymous commander, who has fought for 400 days since the start of the war, said he has come to believe that Israeli settlers are dying for nothing and that Netanyahu is prolonging the war for his own political survival, a widely held view in parts of the occupied territories.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Monday reported that Israeli commanders were resorting to "unusual methods" such as using WhatsApp groups to recruit university students to make up for the shortage of troops ahead of the Gaza offensive.

"I'm looking for combat soldiers, mainly medics and snipers for an operation of 70 days starting on September 11. If there are reservists who are interested, please message me privately," read one of the messages sent out, according to WSJ.

Last week, the New York Times also cited soldiers and officers as saying that the exhaustion and disillusionment facing the Israeli occupation army have threatened to "complicate" Tel Aviv's plans for the upcoming onslaught.

"It's not clear how many of them will return to the fight," NYT highlighted.

Around a dozen officers and soldiers told NYT that there are "depleted and exhausted units," adding that 40 to 50 percent of their comrades were "not turning up for duty."

Israeli forces are currently expanding their aggression on Gaza City's outskirts, laying to waste civilian infrastructure and causing mass destruction ahead of the large-scale attack and invasion.

Gaza City remains one of the last refuges in the northern part of the strip, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are sheltering amid the dual threats of combat and famine since October 7, 2023.

Israel's barbaric onslaught on the Strip has since killed 63,633 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 160,914 others.

Moreover, at least 10,000 people are unaccounted for and presumed dead under the rubble of their homes throughout the besieged territory.

Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former war minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The Tel Aviv regime also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its genocidal war on the besieged Palestinian territory.