Former Israeli soldiers have called for the release of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip to become a priority over the war against “Hamas“, reported DPA, quoted by BTA, citing “Haaretz“.
The call was made in a letter signed by 472 Israeli special forces soldiers, including 135 active reservists. In it, they say that the release of the hostages is the most important urgent task that must prevail over all other goals. The letter added that the fact that hostages continue to be held in the Gaza Strip undermines the moral foundations of the state.
The Palestinian movement “Hamas“ is demanding an end to the war in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages it is holding there. Calls are increasingly being heard in Israel, including from the army ranks, for the release of the hostages. There is also criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza. Some are even calling for an end to the war.
About 1,700 artists and cultural figures have also called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the release of the hostages, the “Times of Israel“ reports. According to them, the war in Gaza, which endangers the lives of hostages and soldiers and leads to the deaths of thousands of people and suffering on both sides, serves political interests.
In addition, 350 Israeli writers also called for an end to the war.
A call also came from 6,000 Israeli architects, engineers and urban planners, who demanded the immediate release of the hostages, even if it means an end to the war in the enclave.
Israeli media reports that more and more reservists are refusing to return to fight in Gaza because they disagree with the army's actions and fear a potential reoccupation of the enclave by Israel.
The Israeli army announced that it had shot down a drone that it said was carrying weapons from Egypt to Israel, world media reported. agencies.
"The security forces that arrived at the scene located the downed drone, four weapons and ammunition", the army said in a statement, without providing further details.
In the past, the army has already announced that it had thwarted attempts to smuggle weapons using drones from Egypt to Israeli territory.
The Maldives plans to ban Israeli citizens from entering the country due to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, world agencies reported, citing a statement from the office of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizu.
The government highlighted "the ongoing atrocities and acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people" as the reason for the ban and expressed solidarity with the Palestinians.
The statement did not mention the attack carried out by “Hamas“ against southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip, nor did it specify when the ban would take effect.
The Maldives and Israel do not maintain full diplomatic relations. But Israelis have been able to visit the Maldives, known for its luxury hotels, white beaches and turquoise blue-green waters, until now. More than 1,400 Israeli tourists visited the Maldives last year, and as of the end of March this year, 236 Israelis had been on the islands.