‘No other country’ – Reservists share burnout, call for Gaza victory

Amid expanded Gaza City operation, reservists called for a decisive victory, not endless rounds of call-ups.

World Israel News Staff

Israeli reservists are speaking out amid the IDF’s expanded military operations in Gaza, describing the heavy personal toll that extended service has taken on their lives while emphasizing their commitment to protecting the Jewish State.

L., an active reservist in the IDF Artillery Corps and an academic policy manager identified only by his first initial, warned that burnout among reservists is growing.

“Reservists are not an infinite resource — they have personal lives that include family, relationships, careers, studies, and health, both physical and mental. Every new call-up means a halt to all aspects of their personal lives,” L. told Israel Hayom.

He stressed that the IDF must achieve a decisive victory over Hamas rather than relying on repeated rounds of call-ups.

“There are moments when it’s frustrating. To see others continue with their lives while you’re once again packing gear and heading to the field,” said Y., a reservist who has served more than 380 days since the October 7th massacres.

Still, Y. emphasized that he finds strength in his sense of mission.

“This is where I was born and raised. I have no other country. I grew up in the Gaza area, I know every field and every road here, and I know exactly what I’m protecting,” he said.

“For me, the quiet at the Gaza border is not just a slogan or an empty phrase. It’s the personal security of my family, my parents, my siblings. I want to ensure that they — and all the people of Israel — can return to a safe routine, to the peace that every citizen in this country deserves.”

Another reservist, M., spoke about the struggle of shifting between military duty and daily life.

“There is great difficulty in transitioning back and forth between long reserve duty stints and a routine that’s not really a routine, and back again,” he said.

M. added that he feels he is “protecting the security of the people and the land, the security of your children.”

Referencing the ongoing debate over drafting members of the ultra-Orthodox community, M. called on his “dear brothers” to fight “shoulder-to-shoulder with us.”