A file picture shows Israeli air force pilots walking near a F-16 during the bi-annual multi-national aerial exercise known as the Blue Flag, at Ovda airbase near Eilat, southern Israel. AFP
"With the full backing of the chief of the General Staff, the commander of the IAF (Israeli Air Force) has decided that any active reservist who signed the letter will not be able to continue serving in the IDF (military)," the official told AFP in response to a letter signed by 970 reserve and retired pilots.
The letter, which was published on a full page in multiple daily newspapers, directly challenges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policy of continuing the Israeli war in Gaza.
On 18 March, Netanyahu, who is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity in Gaza and facing corruption trials at home, unilaterally ended a two-month truce with Hamas on 18 March, which saw the exchange of dozens of Israeli captives for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, to resume Israel's genocidal war on Gaza.
"We, the aircrew in the reserves and retired, demand the immediate return of the hostages even at the cost of an immediate cessation of hostilities," the letter said.
"The war serves primarily political and personal interests, not security interests," it said, adding that the resumed war on Gaza "will result in the deaths of the hostages, the IDF soldiers and innocent civilians, and the exhaustion of the reserve service."
"Only an agreement can return the hostages safely, while military pressure mainly leads to the killing of hostages and the endangerment of our soldiers."
The military official claimed most of the letter's signatories were not active reservists.
Netanyahu, facing criminal trials in Israel over corruption charges, said on Thursday that he supported dismissing any active pilots who had signed the letter.
Since 7 October, Israeli air force pilots, the most well-trained in the world, have taken the lead in carrying out the genocide in Gaza through a relentless campaign of carpet bombing that killed and wounded more than 160,000 Palestinians and destroyed most of the strip.
According to various sources, the Israeli Air Force has approximately 34,000 active personnel, 55,000 reserve personnel, and 608 aircraft.
Earlier this month, Hamas said the resumption of the Israeli bombing campaign of Gaza jeopardized the safety of the remaining 59 Israeli captives in the strip, holding Netanyahu and his right-wing government responsible.
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