Retired Israeli Air Force pilots protest against the war in Gaza outside the country’s defense ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv on August 12, 2025 (Itay Stern NPR)TEL AVIV — Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets every week to protest the ongoing war in Gaza and the government’s failure to bring home Israeli hostages. But on Tuesday, a different kind of demonstration took place: hundreds of retired Israeli Air Force pilots rallied against the waroutside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv. The crowd, most over 60 years of age, stood under a banner reading “Don’t kill hostages and soldiers” — a message that echoed throughout the speeches. I don’t believe there’s such a person.”Turning to Israel’s current chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, Halutz added that “the war has run its course. Polls show a large majority of Israelis support ending the Gaza war in exchange for the hostages’ release.