Hundreds of retired Israeli Air Force pilots have taken to the streets outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, protesting the ongoing war in Gaza and a recent government decision to launch an operation to capture Gaza City. The group, calling itself “555,” gathered for the first time to express their opposition to the cabinet’s latest move.
Among the protesters was Dan Halutz, a former chief of staff of the Israeli military, who challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Hamas remains a significant threat. Halutz stated that the war has run its course and that Gaza is destroyed, with “no army” left there.
Hagai Katz, a decorated fighter pilot, also opposed the campaign to capture Gaza City, citing his concerns about the morality of targeting civilians. He rejected Netanyahu’s promise that the operation would eliminate Hamas once and for all, saying it was an unfulfilled promise made multiple times before.
The protest adds to growing pressure on the government to end the war in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages. Polls show a large majority of Israelis support ending the conflict, but the cabinet has approved the launch of the operation despite warnings from the military chief that it could put the lives of 20 surviving hostages at risk.
The debate over the operation’s legitimacy is expected to intensify, with universities planning to go on strike this coming Sunday. The protest by retired Air Force officers highlights the growing divisions within Israeli society over the war in Gaza.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/14/g-s1-82385/hundreds-of-retired-air-force-officers-protest-israels-war-in-gaza