“Israel” air force to fire pilots for signing Gaza war petition

An “Israeli” military official said Thursday that reserve pilots, who publicly called for securing the release of captives even at the cost of ending the Gaza war, would be dismissed from the air force.

Read more: 'Israeli' military rocked as nearly 1,000 officers demand end to war

"With the full backing of the chief of the General Staff, the commander of the IAF (Israeli airforce) has decided that any active reservist who signed the letter will not be able to continue serving in the IDF (military)," the official told AFP in response to a letter signed by around 1,000 reserve and retired pilots that appeared in the media.

A majority of the 1,000 signatories are retired and no longer serving in the air force.

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) justified the active personnel’s dismissal by saying the “Israeli Air Force brand” cannot be used to protest political matters.