Israeli reservists blast Gaza takeover as illegal, dangerous

Hundreds of Israeli reserve soldiers have appealed to the military’s chief legal adviser, urging her to declare the planned takeover of the Gaza Strip illegal.

The group, known as "Soldiers for Hostages" and composed of reservists who previously served in the Gaza War, addressed Brig. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the Military Advocate General, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

They argued that the order carries unacceptable risks to civilians and hostages.

"Given the certain risk to the lives of the hostages, the lack of a legitimate military purpose and the serious harm inflicted upon innocent civilians – it is clear that the order exceeds all legal and moral standards, and carries a black flag over it," the statement read.

The reservists warned that following such an order could expose soldiers to personal criminal liability and potential international legal consequences.

"As the IDF's expert on international law, it is your job to stop this," they wrote.

"We demand your immediate intervention to determine the illegality of this order, to issue clear instructions to commanders and soldiers on the field, and to take determined actions to prevent a serious deterioration of the situation, which would endanger the lives of the hostages and soldiers, and the status of the State of Israel."

On August 8, Israel’s security cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for a military occupation of Gaza City, the largest population centre in the Palestinian enclave. Netanyahu’s office said the military “will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones.”

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels. On August 22, 2025, the United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza, marking the first such declaration in the Middle East.

By Aghakazim Guliyev