In a rare public appeal, more than 550 retired Israeli security officials have urged former U.S. President Donald Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the ongoing war in Gaza, reported the NewYork Times.
The officials include former chiefs of Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies. Their open letter, released Monday, says Hamas “no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel.” They argue the war, now in its 23rd month, has lost its original justification.
Ami Ayalon, ex-Shin Bet chief, said in a video, “At first this was a just war, a defensive war. But when we achieved all military objectives, it ceased to be just.” He warned the prolonged conflict now threatens Israel’s security and democracy.
The letter was signed by former Mossad heads Tamir Pardo, Efraim Halevy, and Danny Yatom. It calls on Trump to “steer” Netanyahu toward a ceasefire, saying Trump still holds influence in Israel and could help stop the fighting.
Israel began its offensive after Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023 attack. But the officials say Israel has already dismantled Hamas’s main military and governance capabilities. They believe freeing Israeli hostages now requires diplomacy.
“Chasing remaining senior Hamas operatives can be done later,” the letter stated.
Other signatories include former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, ex-Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, and former IDF Chief Dan Halutz. They suggest Trump form a regional coalition to support a reformed Palestinian Authority as a replacement for Hamas in Gaza.
This appeal comes as global pressure on Israel grows to accept a ceasefire, allow aid, and begin prisoner exchanges. Still, Netanyahu’s hardline allies continue pushing for deeper military occupation of Gaza.
