130 Israeli Soldiers Declare They Will Refuse to Serve Unless Gov't Seeks Hostage Deal

A letter signed by 130 Israeli soldiers warns that they will no longer serve unless the government works to obtain a hostage and cease-fire deal.

The letter, addressed to cabinet ministers and the IDF's chief of staff, was signed by reservists and draftees across a wide range of roles, including in the Armored Corps, the Artillery Corps, the Home Front Command, the air force and the navy.

"It is now clear that continuing the war in Gaza does not only delay the hostages' return from captivity, but also endangers their lives: Many hostages have been killed by IDF strikes, many more than those who have been rescued in military operations to save them," the letter read.

It continued: "We, who serve and have served with dedication and while risking are lives, hereby announce that if the government does not immediately change course and work toward a deal to bring the hostages back home, we will not be able to continue serving.

"For some of us, the red line has been crossed already; for others, it is rapidly approaching: the day is approaching when we will, with broken hearts, stop reporting for duty," the letter said.