When soldiers as dedicated as these begin to see fault in military response rather than a need for it, the military leaders need to pay attention.
Without soldiers engaged in moral reasons to fight there is no military and Israel may see soldiers leaving out of moral judgement of their leaders that seem too distanced from what is important, namely hostages.
The Israeli War Cabinet has redefined military target in this war. It is still a legal definition within international humanitarian standards, but, it requires a lot of death to achieve it. There is no wonder after being in the fight for so long soldiers are now in judgement of their leaders rather than loyalty without questions
International Humanitarian Standards recognize civilian deaths as unavoidable in some cases. That standard has never been tested in the way Israel is applying it in this war. I believe its use was well contemplated by Israel’s military establishment long before October 7, 2023. I also believe that reality never one day entered the minds of Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran.
Israel has adhered to that definition every time it carried out strikes on a target. No matter the deaths involved among them is always the military target. This is different than Russia in its willingness to slaughter civilians at will with no military target anywhere within reason.
Being a soldier is among the most honorable of acts a person can perform for their country. It means accepting the possibility of one’s own death to protect the sovereignty of their country. It is a commitment unlike any other which means inflicting death, injury, and maiming of others. When a soldier has a difficult time looking at themselves in the mirror and sets down their weapons to pen letters demanding the end of war to be replaced with respect for life, it is the solemn responsibility of the military leaders to exam the future of war.
The Israeli hostages are still missing. They are unknown to being alive or dead. But, in reflection they are the hope of soldiers to have them returned home. That hope should be respected and a huge part of peace negotiations.
There is no doubt Israel has returned Gaza to the authority of its leaders. There is no doubt Hamas deserved to lose that land after its hatred of Israel surmounted any hope for peace after the treaty by Sharon. Today, Israel needs to declare victory and end a war that currently has no end.
The soldiers seeking peace need to be respected. The hostages need to come home and rebuilding of Gaza under control of Israel needs to commence.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has secured Israel. The ferocity of Israel’s response to October 7th will be a deterrent to future aggression against it. But, Israel cannot and should not seek to expand its ambitions beyond what is reasonable to explain. It is time for Israel to accept its victory, define its borders, and return to peace.
