Former Israeli defence chiefs ask Trump to end war, current chief may resign

A group of around 600 retired Israeli security officials — including former heads of Mossad, Shin Bet, and former Chiefs of Staff — have written to US President Donald Trump, urging him to pressure Israel to immediately end the war in Gaza.

"It is our professional judgment that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel, and our experience tells us that Israel has all it takes to deal with its residual terror capabilities, remotely or otherwise," the officials state.

The letter clearly diverges from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stated prioritisation of wiping out Hamas over releasing the hostages, stating "Chasing remaining senior Hamas operatives can be done later. Our hostages can’t wait.”

The security experts appealed directly to Trump to intervene. "Your credibility with the vast majority of Israelis augments your ability to steer Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government in the right direction: End the war, return the hostages, stop the suffering."

The letter was signed by high-ranking members of Commanders for Israel's Security (CIS), including , former Director of Mossad Tamir Pardo, former head of Shin Bet Ami Ayalon, former Commissioner of Israel Police Assaf Hefetz, and former IDF Depurty Chief of Staff Matan Vilnai.

In a video released alongside the letter, former Shin Bet director Ami Ayalon said “We have a duty to stand up and say what we have to say. We are on the precipice of defeat. The war started as a just and defensive war. But once we achieved all its military objectives — a brilliant military victory — it stopped being a just war. This is leading the State of Israel to the loss of its security and identity.”

Tamir Pardo added “What the world sees today is of our own creation. We are hiding behind a lie that we ourselves wrought. This lie was sold to the Israeli public, and unfortunately, the world has long since understood that it does not reflect the reality on the ground.”

Former IDF Chief of Staff and Defence Minister Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon, who has previously accused Israel of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, said “There are moments that represent a Black Flag, in which one must stand firm and say: this far and no further.”

Former Military Intelligence chief Amos Malka — who just two months before Hamas’s 7 October attacks labelled Netanyahu “a danger to Israel’s security” — criticised the ongoing operation Gideon’s Chariots, launched in March. He said it “hardly advanced anything”, citing high casualties, limited military gains, and mounting diplomatic damage.

In the video, the group warned that Israeli forces are now mired in a “static, grinding campaign” in Gaza “An army that is not on the move is an army that is harmed. No matter how good the army is, a war without a political objective will lead to defeat. The current war is a futile war.”

The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet commented on the CIS letter.

The CIS appeal comes amid reports that current IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir pleaded with cabinet ministers last week to present a strategy for how they want the army to proceed, amid a standstill in hostage talks. Channel 12 reported that the meeting highlighted the government’s lack of a clear plan, as Israel’s international standing continues to erode due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Zamir is reportedly considering resigning if negotiations with Hamas remain stalled, according to journalist Nahum Barnea in Ynet. Hostage talks reached a deadlock last week, with both Israel and the US pulling their teams from Doha, citing frustration with Hamas’s response to the latest partial deal proposal.

In response to Zamir’s concerns, Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting on Monday that he would soon convene the security cabinet to instruct the IDF on how to achieve three war objectives “Defeating the enemy, releasing the hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.”

According to Hebrew media, several ministers said Netanyahu privately used the term “occupation of the Strip” when describing his vision for an expanded military campaign — a significant shift in tone as the government prepares for the next phase of the war.

Ynetnews quoted a senior official close to Netanyahu as saying “The die is cast — we are going for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip. There will be operations even in areas where hostages are being held. If the Chief of Staff doesn’t agree, he should resign.”

The IDF currently controls roughly 75 per cent of the Gaza Strip. Under the proposed plan, the military would be tasked with occupying the remaining territory, bringing the entire enclave under Israeli control.

READ MORE

Netanyahu senior officials say occupation of Gaza is next step, with US approval (Ynetnews)

Zamir said to urge ministers to present strategy on how they want IDF to proceed in Gaza (Times of Israel)

Former Shin Bet, Mossad heads urge Trump to 'compel Netanyahu' to end Gaza war (The Jerusalem Post)