In Israel, 550 retired security officials, including former heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, have called on US President Donald Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to end the Gaza conflict. The group, known as the Israeli Security Commanders (CIS), argued that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel and that continuing the war is jeopardizing the country’s security and identity.
The retired officials stated that the war, now in its 23rd month, had achieved its military objectives, including neutralizing Hamas’s leadership and armed structure. They urged for a focus on hostage exchanges and a post-war plan for Gaza, with hopes that Trump could facilitate a regional coalition and the formation of a new Palestinian state.
In response, President Trump dismissed questions about the war being genocide, saying, “They are at war,” and reaffirmed US efforts to address the hunger crisis in Gaza.