Hundreds of Israeli reservists vow to refuse to fight in planned Gaza City takeover

Hundreds of reservists have said that they will refuse to report for duty if called up to fight as part of the government's operation to seize Gaza City, the Times of Israel is reporting.

Sgt. First Class (res.) Max Kresch said at a Tel Aviv press conference that he was among some 365 reservists who had fought in Gaza since Israel's genocide on the territory began in October 2023 and would "not report for duty when called again".

“We refuse to take part in Netanyahu’s illegal war, and we see it as a patriotic duty to refuse and demand accountability from our leaders", Kresch said, adding that the group of reservists participated in fighting the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October.

Meanwhile, Cpt. (res.) Ron Feiner said: “The decision to occupy Gaza will always be at the risk of the hostages, soldiers and citizens. It was given by a messianic government with no public legitimacy, that is only interested in its own political survival".