Gaza border leaders furious, oppose planned security force cuts

Local leaders from Gaza border communities expressed anger over plans to reduce troops and reserve duty days, warning it would undermine security and violate commitments. They sent an urgent letter to the defense minister demanding a halt to cuts affecting civilian security squads, emphasizing the lessons of October 7 and the need to strengthen, not weaken, the first line of defense.

Local authority leaders in southern Israel expressed anger on Thursday over plans to reduce the number of troops deployed in Gaza border communities and cut reserve duty days for soldiers in the area. They warned the move would directly undermine residents' security and violate a commitment that forces defending the Gaza border communities would not be reduced before the end of the year. The heads of Sderot, Sha'ar HaNegev, Eshkol, Sdot Negev, and Hof Ashkelon local authorities, together with the Future for the Gaza Border Communities movement, sent an urgent letter to the defense minister on Thursday morning calling for reserve duty days for civilian security squads not to be reduced. Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi said, "The lessons of October 7 require us to strengthen the first line of defense for the Gaza border communities, not weaken it." Ohad Cohen, CEO of the Future for the Gaza Border Communities movement, echoed Davidi's concerns, saying, "The civilian security squads and community security coordinators have proven that they save lives, and therefore any reduction in their personnel or preparedness is a mistaken and dangerous step." The leaders demanded an immediate halt to any cuts affecting civilian security squads and other security resources, and called for local authority leaders to be consulted before any changes are made.