Gaza border leaders furious, oppose planned security force cuts

Leaders of local authorities in southern Israel, including Sderot, Sha'ar HaNegev, Eshkol, Sdot Negev, and Hof Ashkelon, along with the Future for the Gaza Border Communities movement, expressed strong opposition on Thursday to proposed cuts in security forces and reserve duty days for civilian security squads in Gaza border communities. They sent an urgent letter to the defense minister, arguing that these reductions would compromise residents' security and violate a commitment to maintain current force levels until year-end. Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi stated, "The security of Gaza border residents cannot be subject to budget cuts or unilateral decisions." The leaders demanded an immediate halt to the cuts, genuine dialogue, and long-term stability for civilian security squads, emphasizing that the lessons of October 7 necessitate strengthening, not weakening, the first line of defense.