Hundreds of Israeli Ex Officials Appeal to Trump to Help End Gaza

Around six Hundreds of retired Israeli security officials, including former heads of Mossad, Shin Bet, the Israel Defense Forces, and other senior figures, have signed an open letter to former U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to intervene and help bring an end to the ongoing war in Gaza. In their message, the officials argue that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel, claiming that the military objectives have already been achieved through the destruction of Hamas’s operational capabilities and governance structures. They emphasize that the focus should now shift to securing the release of Israeli hostages—an outcome they say can only be achieved through diplomatic means, not continued military conflict.

The signatories include former Mossad chiefs Tamir Pardo, Efraim Halevy, and Danny Yatom; former Shin Bet directors Ami Ayalon, Nadav Argaman, Yoram Cohen, Yaakov Peri, and Carmi Gilon; as well as ex-Prime Minister Ehud Barak and former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon. These figures argue that the war, now stretching into its 23rd month, has lost its moral and strategic justification. What once may have been considered a necessary military operation has now, in their view, become a threat to Israel’s national security and moral standing.

They call on Trump to use his significant influence with both the Israeli public and its leadership to persuade Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt military operations and support a ceasefire agreement. The letter also advocates for a long-term diplomatic solution that would include the release of all hostages and a regional framework for peace, possibly involving a restructured Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza after the war. The appeal comes at a time when Netanyahu is reportedly considering expanding the military campaign, despite growing criticism from both within Israel and the international community. Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remain at a standstill, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with tens of thousands of civilian casualties and severe food shortages. The ex-officials’ letter represents a significant internal push for a diplomatic resolution, signaling deep concern among Israel’s security establishment over the prolonged conflict and its consequences.

Source: ndependent.co.uk    aljazeera.com