"Former Israeli military and intelligence figures speak out, advocating for an end to the conflict in Gaza:" 550 ex-Israeli spies and generals call for peace.
Commanders for Israel’s Security Urge End to Gaza Conflict
A group of over 550 former senior Israeli military, intelligence, and diplomatic officials, known as the Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), have urged an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In a letter addressed to President Donald Trump, the CIS argues that the war is unnecessary and harmful, and that a negotiated settlement is the best way forward.
The CIS believes that the full reoccupation of Gaza would be a "strategic trap" that risks endangering Israeli soldiers and hostages. Instead, they call for a deal to return the hostages and cease hostilities, suggesting that dealing with residual terror threats can be handled remotely or later.
According to the CIS, Israel has already dismantled Hamas’ military capabilities and governance, so continuing the war has no military merit. They advocate for removing Hamas from power and entering a regional framework or alliance involving Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and others, aiming for long-term stability through diplomatic means.
The group also emphasizes the need to prepare for a possible second war with Iran, instead of a dangerous Gaza occupation. They criticize Prime Minister Netanyahu’s insistence on continuing the war as politically motivated, aimed at appeasing far-right coalition members rather than based on security necessity.
Tamir Pardo, the former director of Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence service, states that Israel is on the brink of defeat in the war in Gaza. He claims that Israel is hiding behind a lie regarding the situation in Gaza. Ami Ayalon, a former director of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, warns that the war in Gaza is leading Israel to lose its identity.
The letter from the CIS was published on August 4, and was accompanied by a video featuring Ami Ayalon. The signatories of the CIS letter encourage Donald Trump to end the war, bring the hostages home, stop the suffering, and form a regional-international coalition.
Yoram Cohen, a former Shin Bet member, severely criticizes the Israeli government's irrational leadership driven by messianic zealots. He states that the minority controlling Israeli politics is made up of these zealots. The third objective, bringing all hostages home, can now only be achieved by agreement.
Tamir Pardo deplores the dire humanitarian conditions in the besieged Palestinian territory. He states that the hunt for senior Hamas officials can be done later. The former generals and spymasters urge that the hostages cannot wait.
The Israeli army has allegedly achieved the first two objectives by force: demolishing Hamas' military formations and government. However, the CIS argues that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel.
Ami Ayalon has long expressed concerns about the orientations of the Netanyahu government. He believes that the war in Gaza is a distraction from the more pressing issue of Iran. The CIS presents a professional security judgment that a full Gaza reoccupation would be harmful and unnecessary, urging political leadership to negotiate an end to the war through hostage return, regional diplomacy, and strategic preparation for broader threats.
The Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS) argue that continuing the war in Gaza is politically motivated and lacks military merit, as they believe Israel has already dismantled Hamas’ military capabilities and governance. The group promotes a negotiated settlement, calling for a deal to return hostages and cease hostilities.
The CIS also emphasizes the need for Israel to focus on preparing for a possible second war with Iran rather than engaging in a dangerous Gaza occupation, criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu for prioritizing the war over security necessity.
