AL QUDS, Sept 24: Twenty-seven Israeli air force pilots have signed a letter in which they said they would no longer take part in air strikes on densely-populated residential areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel Channel 10 News reported Wednesday night.

“We, veteran pilots and active pilots ... refuse to obey illegal and immoral orders to carry out the kind of attacks which the State of Israel carries out in the territories,” the letter, addressed to Israeli air force commander Major-General Dan Halutz, said.

“We, who were taught to love Israel and contribute to the Zionist enterprise, refuse to take part in attacks by the air force in civilian population centres,” added the signatories, the highest- ranking of whom was a brigadier.

Since the Palestinian Intifada erupted three years ago, Israeli helicopter gunships and fighter jets have carried out dozens of missile strikes targeting militants, in which also civilians have been killed.

Israel stepped up its assassinations of militants after a deadly suicide bombing on an Al Quds bus on Aug 19.—dpa