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| Vilnai addressed his message to Trump |
A Letter from Israeli Security Officials to Trump Regarding Gaza
The head of a group representing over 550 former
high-ranking Israeli security officials has sent a letter to former U.S.
President Donald Trump, urging him to use his upcoming meeting with Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring an end to the ongoing war in Gaza.
In the letter, reported by The Times of Israel, Major
General (Ret.) Matan Vilnai, chairman of Commanders for Israel's Security,
emphasized that “the Israeli military has long fulfilled its dual mission of
dismantling Hamas’ rule and significantly degrading its military capabilities.”
He added, “Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to
Israel. As demonstrated across multiple fronts this year, Israel possesses
overwhelming power and capabilities to neutralize any potential threat emerging
from Gaza in the future.”
Opposition to Prolonged Conflict
Vilnai, expressing strong opposition to Netanyahu’s policy,
warned that continuing the military campaign “endangers the lives of hostages,
will result in further casualties among Israeli soldiers, and prolong the
suffering of innocent Palestinians.”
He further wrote: “More broadly, the ongoing war risks
squandering the momentum generated by military achievements in Gaza, Lebanon,
and more recently, Iran — momentum that could be vital in advancing your vision
of a regional strategic transformation.”
Call for a Diplomatic Breakthrough
The letter also reflects a broader consensus among hundreds
of retired Israeli generals who believe that a partial, phased agreement for
the release of hostages and a limited ceasefire carries similar risks to
Israeli soldiers, the remaining hostages, and innocent Palestinians. Vilnai
stressed that such an approach may even lead to renewed fighting — while also
diminishing prospects for expanding the Abraham Accords and forging a regional
alliance that includes Israel.
Netanyahu to Meet Trump Amid Ongoing Mediation
Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington on Monday for a
White House meeting with Trump, during which the war in Gaza and the
U.S.-backed Israeli campaign against Iran will be on the agenda.
Simultaneously, mediators are working on a proposed
agreement that would pause the Gaza war for 60 days, during which negotiations
would aim to reach a permanent resolution.
Hamas Responds Positively to Ceasefire Proposal
On Friday evening, Hamas announced that it had completed
internal consultations with Palestinian factions regarding the latest ceasefire
proposal presented by mediators.
The movement confirmed in an official statement that it had
delivered its response to the mediators, describing it as “positive.”
Hamas also expressed its serious readiness to immediately engage in a new round of negotiations focused on implementing the framework, with the goal of achieving the aspirations of the Palestinian people and ending the ongoing aggression on Gaza.
