Occupied al-Quds - Saba:
New groups within the Israeli occupation army have joined the wave of demands to stop the war on the Gaza Strip and return the prisoners, amid fears of a worsening manpower crisis within the army.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported, according to a translation by the Palestinian Safa News Agency, that reserve soldiers in the Naval Commando Force and the Cyber Unit signed petitions demanding the release of prisoners, even at the expense of a ceasefire.
The newspaper added that estimates indicate that the rift within the army is widening, with fears that the protests could spread to the streets. The wave of protests began among reserve pilots weeks ago and spread to other sectors and formations within the Israeli army after their dismissal from service.
It indicated that the army is seeking to contain the situation, fearing that politicians will exploit the situation and pour oil on the fire. It noted that it has decided to open a dialogue with reserve soldiers and officers participating in the protest campaign to "minimize the damage as much as possible."
According to the newspaper, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir fears the army's manpower crisis will worsen at this critical time, with the wave of protests against the ongoing war growing.
The newspaper explained that Zamir is pushing for a de-escalation with the protesting soldiers, fearing the army's manpower crisis will worsen at the height of the war on Gaza.
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