More than 1,100 reservists in the Israeli Air Force, including hundreds of pilots, issued a letter today, Friday, announcing that they will suspend their volunteer reserve duty in protest against the government's plans to reform the judicial system.

This announcement is the latest in shockwaves for the Israeli military, which is struggling to halt the increasing flow of reservists who are leaving voluntary service to protest the comprehensive reform, with defense officials warning that the growing phenomenon could affect national readiness.

In the letter addressed to Knesset members, Israeli Army Chief of Staff General Herzi Halevi, and Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, 1,142 active reservists stated that the controversial government plans would lead them to cease their voluntary service.

Reservists urged the government to "reach broad agreements" regarding judicial reform, and to "enhance trust in the judicial system by all segments of society and maintain its independence."

Most Israelis completing their mandatory military national service are required to attend annual reserve duty, but those who have served in special units, including pilots, are expected to volunteer for the same duties while in reserve, a commitment they usually take upon themselves; due to the nature of their positions, special forces and reserve pilots frequently show up for training and missions.

Many reservists have warned in recent months that they would not be able to serve in a non-democratic Israel, which some accuse the state of becoming if the government's reform plans are implemented.

1,142 reservists stated that legislation affecting the Jewish or democratic character of the State of Israel should be done through negotiations and broad public consensus.

They added, "Legislation that allows the government to act in an extremely unreasonable manner will harm the security of the State of Israel, will lead to a loss of trust, and violate my consent to continue risking my life, and will result, with deep sadness and no choice, in suspending my volunteer reserve duty."

Many signatories who spoke with Channel 12 News anonymously said they were saddened to take this step but that Israel was facing an unprecedented crisis of trust in leadership, "pulling us over the edge."

They said, "We must fight for a country where our children want to live, opposing a leadership with an unchecked power and extreme agenda, adding that we have lived through all governments and all crises and have not taken such a step."

Some blamed Israeli Army Chief of Staff Halevi, whom they said "should have banged his fist on the table" to urge the government to stop, "we expect him to do so now."

Another pilot told Army Radio, "We understand the security implications, but we also understand the immense risks of changing the regime."

The letter was signed by 235 fighter pilots, 98 transport pilots, 89 helicopter pilots, 173 drone operators, 124 air traffic control officers, 167 Indian Air Force personnel, 91 training officers, 80 members of elite search and rescue unit 669, and 85 members of the Shaldag commando unit.

On Thursday, Maj. Gen. Bar stated that the Israeli Air Force continues to operate as usual despite calls from reservists not to show up for volunteer work in protest of the comprehensive reform, but he added that the current rhetoric is causing significant damage that will take years to mend.

He added, "The harsh statements made towards the army and the air force and the reserves in recent days have no place in society and have caused great damage to the cohesion of the force, I strongly condemn them."

Protests against the judicial reform have stirred anger within the Israeli army for months, with hundreds of military reservists announcing in recent days that they will no longer volunteer to perform their specialized duties, including Air Force pilots, if the government moves forward with its plans.

Threats have escalated as the government pushes a bill that restricts the use of the so-called "reasonableness" judicial test, which is part of its controversial plan to reform the judicial system.

The Israeli army also criticized a video circulating on the internet, including by ministers, depicting Israeli Air Force pilots refusing to assist ground troops attacked by enemy forces due to support for the government's judicial reform plans.

Military spokesperson Daniel Hagari, in a statement on Thursday, said the filmed video aims to create "internal incitement" within the Israeli army and should be condemned.

Meanwhile, defense officials and politicians on both sides of the aisle have warned that mass refusal could make Israel more vulnerable to external threats, as army readiness, particularly the Israeli Air Force, could be adversely affected.

The army stated that it will discipline or potentially dismiss active-duty soldiers who refuse to report for service when ordered, but emphasized that no action would be taken against reservists who merely threaten not to show up.

It is unclear what actions will be taken against reservists who do not report for voluntary service; the Israeli army has stated that it will handle each case individually, including the possibility of suspension, dismissal, or imprisonment.