Over 550 retired Israeli security officials, including former heads of Mossad, Shin Bet, and the military, have written an open letter to US President Donald Trump, urging him to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the Gaza war and secure the return of Israeli hostages.“It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel,” stated the signatories, as per news agency AFP. The letter, released Monday, was supported by three former Mossad chiefs, Tamir Pardo, Efraim Halevy and Danny Yatom, along with five former Shin Bet heads, including Ami Ayalon, Nadav Argaman and Carmi Gilon. Former military chiefs, such as Ehud Barak and Moshe Yaalon, also endorsed the appeal.Ayalon, in a video accompanying the letter, said, “At first this war was a just war… but when we achieved all military objectives, this war ceased to be a just war.” He warned the conflict is causing Israel to “lose its security and identity.”The signatories argue that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have already dismantled Hamas’s military infrastructure and governance, and that “chasing remaining senior Hamas operatives can be done later.” They stress that bringing back hostages is the priority and “can only be achieved through a deal.”According to The Jerusalem Post, the move was spearheaded by the Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), a group comprising more than 600 retired senior officials. CIS told Trump, “Stop the Gaza War! You did it in Lebanon. Time to do it in Gaza as well.” They also urged him to support a regional coalition involving Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) to administer post-war Gaza.The push for a ceasefire comes amid mounting international criticism of Israel’s ongoing military campaign. Netanyahu remains opposed to any deal involving the PA, fearing it could strengthen Hamas’s comeback and fracture his hardline coalition. Instead, he insists on securing hostage release through “decisive military victory.”The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has sharply criticised this stance, calling it a “fraud” and accusing Netanyahu of “preparing the greatest scam.” In a statement quoted by The Times of Israel, the group said, “For 22 months now the public has been sold the illusion that military pressure and intense fighting will bring the hostages back.”Recent hostage videos, including distressing footage of Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, have heightened public outrage. Netanyahu said the hostages were being deliberately starved by Hamas. “They are starving them the way the Nazis starved the Jews,” he claimed, vowing to eliminate Hamas and ensure Gaza never again threatens Israel.While the Israeli cabinet remains divided over whether to escalate the war or pursue a negotiated deal, the US is now less inclined towards temporary ceasefires and wants a broader resolution, according to The Times of Israel.
