More than 6,500 Israeli lecturers and academics, in addition to roughly 1,000 mother and father, signed petitions on Monday urging the federal government in Tel Aviv to safe the discharge of hostages held within the Gaza Strip, even when it meant ending the battle within the enclave.
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, roughly 3,500 lecturers signed a petition supporting a earlier letter from Israeli Air Force reservists demanding the return of the hostages and the top of the battle.
“We, members of the academic staff in higher education institutions, join the call of the Air Force soldiers and demand the immediate return of the hostages, even if it requires halting the war at once,” the petition acknowledged.
The lecturers argued that “the war primarily serves political and personal interests. Its continuation will lead to the deaths of hostages, soldiers, and innocent civilians and will drain the reserve forces.”
They added that “as shown in the past, only a negotiated agreement can ensure the safe return of the abducted to Israel.”
In an identical petition, over 3,000 academics emphasised that “this is not a call to refuse military service, but a plea to save lives,” the day by day added.
Source: www.anews.com.tr