Former Israeli Soldiers, Palestinian Fighters, and U.S. G.I.s Declare: “We’re Done with War”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A coalition of former Israeli soldiers, Palestinian fighters, and active-duty U.S. military personnel announced today their collective refusal to participate in war and called on Congress to stop funding what they describe as genocide in Gaza.

The group, composed of individuals who have experienced conflict firsthand, spoke passionately during a press conference about their reasons for rejecting violence and urged other military personnel to join them in demanding peace. The appeal, titled “Appeal for Redress v2,” calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

“We’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of war, and we are standing together to say, ‘Enough is enough,’” said Elik Elhanan, a former special forces soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Elhanan, who served in south Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza, now advocates for nonviolent solutions. “In nonviolence, I found a language for community building that allows for self-expression and exchange, while engaging in fierce resistance against the hegemonic discourse,” he added.

Sophia Or, a 19-year-old Israeli conscientious objector who spent 85 days in military jail for refusing to enlist in the IDF, shared her perspective on the need for change. “I refuse to enlist in order to show that change is needed and that change is possible, for the security and safety of all of us in Israel-Palestine, and in the name of empathy that is not restricted by national identity,” Or stated. “I want to create a reality in which all children between the Jordan River and the sea can dream without cages,” she added.

Ahmed Helou, a former Hamas youth member from the West Bank, recounted his transformation from a militant to a peace advocate. “I was born to a refugee family that was forced to flee from their home in 1948,” Helou said. “After years of conflict, I realized that the only path to a future without fear is through understanding and peace. I joined Combatants for Peace to work towards that goal,” he continued.

USAF Senior Airman Larry Hebert, stationed in Rota, Spain, expressed his disillusionment with the U.S. government’s role in the conflict. “As an active duty servicemember who joined believing our military was a force for good in the world, I’m horrified by the position of the United States government to fully support the genocide and occupation of civilians in Palestine,” Hebert said. “Our complacency towards human suffering while seeing who profits from it is intolerable,” he added.

USAF Senior Airman Juan Bettancourt and USAF 2d Lt. Joy Metzler also voiced strong opposition to the ongoing violence and urged immediate action. “As conscientious objectors, we adamantly refuse to be accomplices in this genocide,” Bettancourt stated. “These are my views, not those of the Department of Defense,” Metzler emphasized, adding, “Hate begets hate, so I am calling for a ceasefire and an end to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

Mike Ferner, Special Projects Coordinator for Veterans For Peace, noted the significance of this unprecedented alliance. “It is highly significant that former fighters from Israel and Palestine have joined American G.I.s to say, ‘War is not the answer,’” Ferner said. “This cross-conflict solidarity is crucial in challenging the narratives that perpetuate violence,” he added.

Tiffany Goodwin-Van Camp, Executive Director of American Friends of Combatants for Peace, echoed the call for peace. “We refuse to be pitted against each other as enemies. Our ultimate goal is collective liberation because we know that the fate of Israelis, Palestinians, and all of us is intertwined,” she said.

The press conference underscored a growing movement among military personnel who feel morally compelled to oppose the violence in Gaza. “Our office has received calls from six new conscientious objectors in the past week,” reported Bill Galvin, Counseling Coordinator at the Center on Conscience & War. “All of them have clearly said that participating in that conflict is morally wrong,” Galvin added.

The coalition is urging U.S. military members and civilian supporters to share the “Appeal for Redress v2” widely and to advocate for an end to the conflict in Gaza.