Israel paid tribute this Sunday, May 12, to its soldiers who died since the birth of the country, on the occasion of Yom Hazikaron. Since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the Jewish state has never experienced such a heavy toll as in recent months. More than 600 soldiers have lost their lives since the Hamas attack. The majority from October 7, the others in the fighting in Gaza. A collective of parents of soldiers says “stop”.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem, Sami Boukhelifa
While the country is bogged down in a seemingly endless war, these parents refuse ” the unnecessary sacrifice » of their children. “ My son is a soldier “, says Anat Mogilner, mother of four. One of them is deployed to Gaza since the beginning of the war. “ He is 21 years old. He went to Jabaliya. And he also participated in the last operation which targeted the al-Chifa hospital », she adds.
Soldiers have a duty of reserve. They cannot express themselves freely. “ So we, parents, are their spokespersons », says Anat. “ We see it clearly: this war has no precise objective. The government has no plan, it does not prepare for the day after. Our children risk paying with their lives for this lack of vision from our leaders. And as parents we can’t accept it », Testifies Anat.
“ It will also be a death trap for the soldiers who enter it »
Like her, Nurit Felsenthal Berger is also the mother of a soldier currently deployed in Gaza. The two mothers are part of a collective of more than 600 parents who oppose the continuation of the war and the ground offensive against Rafah. Their slogan: “ Defend the country, yes. But waging war for political reasons is no. »
“ Today, the continuation of this war has only one objective: to allow the government to remain in power. And yet, Israel’s priority should be the release of its hostages. The invasion of Rafah risks compromising the chances of freeing the hostages alive. It will also be a death trap for the soldiers who enter it “, she declares.
These parents of soldiers sent a letter to several Israeli officials, including the Minister of Defense, to avoid “ certain death » to their children, but also spare the innocent Palestinian civilians taking refuge in Rafah.
Read alsoGaza Strip: under deadly Israeli bombardments, the evacuation of Rafah continues