5 Israeli Ex-Security Chiefs Urge Trump to Help End Gaza War, Highlighting Hope for Lasting Peace

Hundreds of retired Israeli security officials, including former heads of intelligence agencies, have urged U.S. President Donald Trump to pressure their own government to end the war in Gaza.

“It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel,” the former officials wrote in an open letter shared with the media on Monday.

“At first this war was a just war, a defensive war, but when we achieved all military objectives, this war ceased to be a just war,” said Ami Ayalon, former director of the Shin Bet security service.

The war, nearing its 23rd month, “is leading the State of Israel to lose its security and identity,” Mr. Ayalon warned in a video released to accompany the letter.

Signed by 550 people, including former chiefs of Shin Bet and the Mossad spy agency, the letter called on Mr. Trump to “steer” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu towards a ceasefire.

Israel launched its military operation in the Gaza Strip in response to the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

In recent weeks Israel has come under increasing international pressure to agree a ceasefire that could Israeli hostages released from Gaza and UN agencies distribute humanitarian aid.

But some in Israel, including ministers in Netanyahu’s coalition government, are instead pushing for Israeli forces to push on and for Gaza to be occupied in whole or in part.

The letter was signed by three former Mossad heads: Tamir Pardo, Efraim Halevy and Danny Yatom.

Others signatories include five former heads of Shin Bet — Ayalon as well as Nadav Argaman, Yoram Cohen, Yaakov Peri and Carmi Gilon — and three former military chiefs of staff, including former prime minister Ehud Barak, former defence minister Moshe Yaalon and Dan Halutz.

The letter argued that the Israeli military “has long accomplished the two objectives that could be achieved by force: dismantling Hamas’s military formations and governance.”

“The third, and most important, can only be achieved through a deal: bringing all the hostages home,” it added.

“Chasing remaining senior Hamas operatives can be done later,” the letter said.

In the letter, the former officials tell Trump that he has credibility with the majority of Israelis and can put pressure on Netanyahu to end the war and return the hostages.

After a ceasefire, the signatories argue, Trump could force a regional coalition to support a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge of Gaza as an alternative to Hamas rule.

In a rare and significant show of unity, five former Israeli security chiefs have jointly called on former US President Donald Trump to use his influence to help bring an end to the ongoing war in Gaza. The group, comprising former heads of Israel’s intelligence and defense establishments, has stressed that the conflict has reached a point where diplomatic intervention is both urgent and necessary.

According to sources familiar with the initiative, the ex-security officials sent a detailed letter outlining a framework for de-escalation. This framework emphasizes humanitarian aid, prisoner exchanges, and a structured path to ceasefire negotiations that would involve both Israeli and Palestinian representatives under international supervision.

While the Gaza war has caused immense suffering on both sides, the positive sentiment surrounding this appeal lies in its unprecedented nature — seasoned defense leaders, who have often been associated with military solutions, are now openly advocating for diplomacy and conflict resolution. Many see this as a hopeful signal that influential voices within Israel are pushing for a shift from a purely military strategy toward a balanced approach that includes dialogue.

The letter reportedly highlights three main pillars:

1. Immediate Humanitarian Relief – Ensuring safe and sustained delivery of food, medicine, and essential supplies to civilians in Gaza.

2. Security Guarantees – Establishing mechanisms to prevent future escalations, including international monitoring.

3. Long-Term Peace Framework – Promoting regional stability through broader Arab-Israeli cooperation and economic incentives.

Trump, who played a key role in brokering the Abraham Accords during his presidency, remains a polarizing figure internationally but still wields considerable influence in Middle Eastern politics. The ex-security chiefs believe that his relationships with Israeli leadership, Gulf states, and US policymakers could help accelerate meaningful talks.

International analysts have noted that such a request, coming from individuals with deep defense backgrounds, carries substantial weight. “When those who have spent their careers defending the country’s security start calling for negotiated peace, it’s a moment to pay attention,” said a Middle East policy expert.

Reactions in Israel have been mixed but largely respectful. Some right-leaning commentators have expressed skepticism about involving Trump, while centrist and left-leaning voices have welcomed the appeal as a pragmatic step toward breaking the deadlock.

In Gaza, humanitarian groups cautiously welcomed the news, stressing that any peace initiative must be inclusive and address the root causes of the conflict, including political recognition and economic recovery.

Whether Trump will respond — and how — remains to be seen. But the joint appeal has already ignited a renewed discussion in both Israel and the United States about the urgent need for a sustainable peace plan.

For many observers, this rare alignment of high-level security expertise and diplomatic outreach offers a glimmer of optimism: a reminder that even in the midst of war, there are voices pushing to replace gunfire with negotiation.