"As an Israeli, I’m ashamed. I feel like a criminal. Innocent people, including women and children, are dying in Gaza." — Israeli soldier Ben Ari
[Tel Aviv, Israel | June 1, 2025]
Israeli reserve soldier Yuval Ben Ari has emerged as a brave voice against his own country's current policies. “As an Israeli, I’m ashamed,” he said. “Innocent people, including women and children, are being killed in Gaza—this makes me feel guilty.”
In a recent interview with NBC News, Ben Ari declared bluntly:
“I refuse to participate in war crimes. The patriotic thing to do is to say ‘no.’”
His words have made him a symbol of Israel’s internal moral conscience within its military.
Fractures in the Military Ranks
Israel’s ongoing Gaza offensive, codenamed “Chariot of Gideon,” is facing growing domestic scrutiny—not just from civilians but from reserve soldiers as well. The activist group Restart Israel reports that since the ceasefire breakdown in March, at least 12,000 current and former soldiers have sent letters to the Prime Minister’s Office demanding an end to the war.
Ben Ari himself participated in two missions—first in northern, then southern Gaza. But after witnessing the destruction and humanitarian crisis, he was left emotionally devastated. During his second deployment in March, he said he could no longer take part for moral reasons. He crossed the border back and announced on social media:
“Under the current government, I will no longer wear this uniform.”
Praise and Backlash
While many of Ben Ari’s friends and relatives have praised his stance, some have attacked him as a traitor. Later, he anonymously authored an op-ed in Haaretz where he shared his wartime experiences.
Senior Officers Also Alarmed
Guy Poran, a 69-year-old retired air force pilot, said:
“We’re not saying stop the war because we’re tired. We’re saying this war is illegal.”
He blamed Israel’s political environment as well—citing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial and the influence of far-right allies, calling the government a “blackmailed regime.”
A major in the air force stated outright:
“The government is no longer moral. It’s up to the military to show the stop sign.”
IDF Statement and Threats of Disciplinary Action
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded by saying:
“Reservists are the backbone of the IDF. We strive to stay above political disputes.”
However, the Associated Press reported that some reserve soldiers have already been dismissed or threatened with dismissal for their dissent.
Moral Collapse of War
Due to the blockade, food, medicine, and fuel are cut off from entering Gaza. Since the ceasefire collapse in March, the situation has drastically worsened. Gaza’s Health Ministry says over 54,000 people have been killed so far.
Even some far-right Israeli ministers, including Ben Gvir, Smotrich, and Eliyahu, have opposed a ceasefire, calling continued war “foolish and morally wrong.”
Ben Ari said:
“You can’t displace 2 million people like this. It’s inhumane.”
Guy Poran added:
“If Gaza remains under our control, we also have a duty to its food, healthcare, education, and sanitation systems. Who will take that responsibility?”
This wave of protest and these hard questions are now coming from within Israel itself. The war in Gaza is no longer just an issue of international condemnation—it is shaking the moral conscience of Israeli soldiers themselves.
