Israeli reservists call for Gaza ceasefire, hostages’ release in open letter Nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists and retirees signed a letter published Thursday, demanding the immediate return of the hostages, even at the cost of ending the fighting. FRANCE 24 speaks to one of the signatories, IDF Reserve Colonel Avner Neri Yarkoni. Mr. Yarkoni is also a lawyer and former Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel.