He added in statements to Sputnik that the majority of these soldiers have come to the conclusion that this war is futile, and no objectives can be achieved through it. Kanaan believes that the soldiers fully understand that Netanyahu has not and will not be able to eliminate the Hamas movement, nor will he be able to return the captives without resorting to negotiations through Qatari, Egyptian, and American mediators. He pointed out that the Israeli public is becoming aware of this, and foreign media have begun to publish these facts.
Kanaan mentioned that 44 high schools in Israel went on strike in support of the families of the captives and in opposition to the Israeli government, affirming that this war is futile and has not been able to achieve any of its objectives. He explained that it has become a war of genocide against an unarmed people, and a war to destroy the infrastructure, health, and education sectors in the Gaza Strip.
Kanaan noted that the world is witnessing this, and everyone sees and hears what is happening in the Gaza Strip from a “horrific” famine that has not occurred for more than a hundred years, neither in World War I nor in World War II. He condemned the crimes and genocide happening in Gaza against children, women, and everything Palestinian Arab.
Regarding the demands for deportation, Kanaan described it as “another crime against humanity,” and expected that the pressures and the media coverage about the reserve soldiers have become a concern for the political side and the Israeli government. This is because the Israeli public is practically in total sympathy with these soldiers, revealing an incident of a soldier’s suicide yesterday for refusing to return to the Gaza Strip.
Western newspapers revealed that Israeli military leaders are struggling to find enough participants for the Gaza operation amid increasing exhaustion among soldiers and their disbelief in the war’s utility. A newspaper reported interviews with about 30 soldiers who said they are leaving their jobs, studies, and families to support the new mission, with many of them saying they have reached a breaking point, according to Sky News.
Some leaders resorted to unusual methods to find enough men. One commander wrote a message on a WhatsApp group for Israeli university students: “I am looking for combat soldiers, especially medics and snipers, for a 70-day operation starting on September 11. If there are any interested reserve soldiers, please contact me privately.”
Last week, Israeli media reported that the Israeli army has called up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers to join military service. Israeli Channel 12 reported that the Israeli army informed 20,000 reserve soldiers of extending their military service, in addition to calling up another 60,000 to be on duty by next Tuesday.
The channel clarified that about 60,000 reserve soldiers have already received military mobilization orders to continue the campaign in the Gaza Strip. It confirmed on its website that “the Israeli army decided, in an expanded manner, to deploy military police teams at all exit points from Israel, including Ben Gurion Airport and maritime and land crossings, to prevent the illegal departure of those fleeing and evading military service.”
This comes as the Palestinian Hamas movement announced last Monday its agreement to a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that includes a partial exchange of prisoners and detainees, followed by negotiations aiming at a permanent ceasefire and ending the war. However, Israel has not officially responded to the proposal yet.
Israel resumed its bombing of the Gaza Strip on March 18, after a nearly two-month pause, specifically since the ceasefire agreement with Hamas came into effect on January 19, following failed talks to extend the first phase of the agreement or move to its second phase. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was supposed to continue once the first phase, which ended on March 1, was extended or entered its second phase, but disagreements between Israel and Hamas over the next steps prevented this.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of witnessing a “humanitarian disaster,” while the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the necessity to end the war in Gaza and launch Palestinian-Israeli negotiations aiming to achieve a two-state solution by establishing an independent Palestinian state that coexists peacefully and securely with Israel.
