Hundreds of retired Israeli security officials, including former heads of intelligence agencies, have called on US President Donald Trump to pressure the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza.
"It is our professional assessment that Hamas [the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union] no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel," the former officials wrote in an open letter.
"Initially, this war was a just war, a defensive war, but when we achieved all the military objectives, this war ceased to be a just war," said Ami Ayalon, the former director of the security service, Shin Bet.
The war, which is approaching its 23rd month, "is leading Israel towards the loss of its security and identity," Ayalon warned in a video released along with the letter on August 4.
Signed by 550 people, including former heads of the Shin Bet and the spy agency, Mossad, the letter calls on Trump to "lead" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu towards a ceasefire.
Israel launched the military operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the deadly attack on October 7, 2023, that Hamas carried out against Israel.
In recent weeks, Israel has been facing intense international pressure to accept a ceasefire, which would allow the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the distribution of aid by United Nations agencies to the Palestinian territory.
But some in Israel, including ministers in Netanyahu's government, are calling for Israeli forces to continue the offensive and for Gaza to be occupied in whole or in part.
The letter was also signed by three former Mossad heads: Tamir Pardo, Efraim Halevy and Danny Yatom.
Through this letter, the signatories argued that the Israeli military "has long since achieved the two objectives that could be accomplished by force: the destruction of Hamas' military structures and rule."
"The third, and most important, objective can only be achieved through an agreement: the return home of all hostages," the signatories said.
In the letter, the former officials told Trump that he enjoys credibility with most Israelis and can pressure Netanyahu to end the war and return the hostages.
After a ceasefire, the signatories argued that Trump could force the creation of a regional coalition that would support a reformed Palestinian Authority to run Gaza, as an alternative to Hamas rule. /REL (A2 Televizion)
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