Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Former Israeli army chief Dan Halutz has called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “an enemy” and should be “subdued or taken captive.”
In an interview on Channel 12 on Monday, Halutz described Netanyahu as an immediate danger to the occupation state. When the interviewer asked if that language was too extreme, Halutz responded, “An enemy should be subdued, not eliminated — taken captive.”
Halutz’s comments sparked strong outrage from Netanyahu’s Likud party. The party said Halutz’s words encourage to assassinate Netanyahu.
The former military chief also joined former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and over 1,500 soldiers and officers in signing a petition. The letter calls for the release of Israeli prisoners in Gaza, even if that means halting the genocide.
According to Israeli media, more than 1,500 signatories came from the Armored Corps, including former top commanders and soldiers who never joined officer school. The petition urges the government to prioritize freeing the Israeli prisoners.
Other former generals also signed, including Amram Mitzna, Amos Malka, Avi Mizrahi, and Amnon Reshef.
The protest is growing across sectors. Over 1,600 veterans from paratrooper and infantry units have signed similar letters. So have thousands of academics and members of the intelligence community — both active and retired.
Criticism of Netanyahu is intensifying. Many accuse him of endangering Israeli prisoners in Gaza by breaking ceasefire terms with Hamas. Protests and petitions continue to grow, with calls for a deal to stop the fighting and bring the prisoners home.
Several reports had revealed that Netanyahu designated a team to thwart any possible prisoner exchange. The exposé sparked outrage among families of Israeli prisoners.