Another 15 Israeli soldiers refuse to serve until a Gaza swap deal is reached

JERUSALEM

Fifteen more Israeli soldiers have refused to serve in the army until a prisoner exchange deal is reached with the Palestinians, Israeli media reported on Wednesday.

The Walla news portal said the new soldiers joined a total of 138 soldiers, who signed a letter declaring their refusal to serve without an agreement.

The letter was sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Army Chief Herzi Halevi and other Israeli government officials.

“The war in Gaza is condemning our brothers and sisters and hostages to death,” the letter reads.

Israel estimates that some 101 captives are still being held by the Hamas group in Gaza, some of whom are believed to have already been killed by the ongoing and indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes across the tiny enclave.

Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt and Qatar to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas have failed because of Netanyahu’s refusal to end the war.

The Israeli military has continued a devastating offensive in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack last year, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Since then, more than 42,700 people have died, mostly women and children, and more than 100,300 others have been injured, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli assault on Gaza has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar

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