IDF reserve officers protest at DM Gallant's home, calling on him to 'win or step aside’

Despite personal losses, families of fallen soldiers urge Gallant to finish the job

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Dozens of reserve IDF officers, along with bereaved family members of fallen soldiers, and members of the “Mothers of Soldiers” organization, protested outside the home of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday evening.

The protesters demanded intensified military action in the Gaza Strip and a decisive victory against the Hamas terrorist organization. They urged Gallant to take strong action or resign.

Elishav Vach – a reserve captain who previously set up a protest encampment outside Gallant’s home – organized the rally on Tuesday night after 300 days of fighting in Gaza. Vach's brother, Golan, was recently injured when a tunnel collapsed on him during operations in Gaza.

“I fought for 300 days in Gaza, was wounded twice, and instead of going home, I came here because I understand that the real battle is here, in front of the home of the person responsible for the security of the State of Israel,” Vach said.

Addressing Gallant, Vach said, “Defense Minister, you are responsible for security, but for some reason, everyone is complaining about you. We the public gave you the responsibility for our security, but we don't see that you have the will to win.”

Vach called on Gallant to deepen the attacks against Hamas in Gaza without delay or step aside.

“We demand victory, and if you don’t know how to achieve it, then hand over the keys," he said.

Meir Tubul, father of Sergeant First Class (res.) Asaf Pinhas Tubul, who was killed in December, said, “When the war broke out, I had hope. Gallant seemed to be a defense minister with a knife between his teeth, but where is that today? We demand total victory, it's either us or them.”

Eyal Botchak, father of Capt. Oshri Butchak, stated: “We heard the other day that the war must be stopped from a former senior member of the defense establishment. Tell me are we crazy? Stop the war now? Continue until victory!”

Botchak also called on Gallant to resign if he wasn’t capable of standing up to international pressure.

“Putting down the keys is no shame. To say, ‘I can't because there is pressure on me from the United States, pressure from within, from friends,’ it's no shame. But we demand victory.”

Hannah Giat of the “Mothers of Soldiers” organization, which supports the war effort until Hamas is defeated, said she came to the rally to represent her children who are serving in the IDF on both the southern and northern fronts.

“In recent weeks, we were all horrified to see how Hamas kills the hostages in cold blood, scenes we thought the Jewish people would never see again,” Giat said.

She also condemned Gallant for his strong support for the humanitarian aid transfers into Gaza.

“But in return, we see the army and those living here, the defense minister, bringing in trucks loaded with goods while they [Hamas] continue to slaughter our brothers day by day. Unfortunately, someone here does not understand who the murderous enemy is before us. It is important to defeat him; it is victory or annihilation.”