The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Thursday that Air Force (IAF) Commander Major General Tomer Bar will dismiss the reservists who signed a letter requesting that the release of hostages abducted by Hamas should be a higher priority than fighting the organization.
The IDF said it does not oppose anyone expressing their opinion privately but disagrees with using the army for that purpose. The letter in question was signed by about 1,000 people presenting themselves as "air personnel in reserves and retirement." The IDF is currently examining the lists and reviewing who among the signatories is in active service.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz supported the move. Netanyahu even went on to describe the signatories as "an extremist fringe group that is once again trying to break Israeli society from within" and a "noisy fringe group is mobilized for one goal - to overthrow the government."
