'I go with a heavy heart' Some Israeli reservists reluctant to join offensive

Some Israeli reservists reluctant to join offensive

- Jason Burke

Tens of thousands of reservists in Israel will return to active service in the coming weeks amid an intense and often bitter debate over the direction of the war in Gaza within their ranks that reflects wider divisions in the country. Some will be forced to make their decision within days. The Israel Defense Forces began mobilising thousands of reservists yesterday after calling up 60,000 for an expanded offensive into Gaza City, one of the few places in the devastated territory outside its control. More will be ordered to report to military bases if the fighting continues for many months, as analysts expect.

Many reservists interviewed by the Guardian said they would face "a hard choice" when asked to serve again, citing both personal and ideological reasons. Few said they would refuse, however. "We are willing to give up our lives... but the obvious truth is that we are dying now for no reason," said Aviad Yisraeli, a combat medic who was in Gaza last month.

"Militarily, there is nothing more to gain... but then it also seems a bad choice to end this war with Hamas with some part of power in Gaza and [holding] some of the hostages and with the kibbutzim [in southern Israel] still vulnerable. So these are hard questions."