Summary
- Former Israeli commander urges Trump to end Gaza war.
- Calls on Netanyahu to stop conflict and release hostages.
- Warns Gaza annexation is political suicide for Israel.
- Over 600 ex-security officials back the appeal to Trump.
- Highlights exhaustion of Israeli forces and international isolation.
Brik dismissed the prospect of Israel establishing a long-term military presence in Gaza, stating that the army's ground soldiers "are very small and exhausted."
“For now, all we can do is to pray that Donald Trump will come to his senses and realize that he needs to force Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war, release the hostages, rebuild the country, and save it from collapse,”
Yitzhak Brik, a retired major general, said in an opinion piece in the Haaretz newspaper.
“Even in places they do enter, such as Beit Hanoun (in northern Gaza), they do not fully take over the area and remain only at a few points.”
He cautioned that annexing portions of Gaza would cause Israel to become isolated globally and result in more diplomatic and commercial boycotts.
“It is political suicide. Almost the entire world is standing against us,”
Brik said, citing growing international calls for the recognition of a Palestinian state in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The retired commander described Israel as “a pariah and leper state” and criticized the current government that “will be remembered in the history of Israel with eternal disgrace.”
“A small, extremist, messianic group, led by the Prime Minister, that has brought the state to an end.”
Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli army has launched a vicious offensive on Gaza, rejecting international appeals for a truce. Since then, it has killed approximately 61,000 Palestinians, nearly half of whom were women and children. The enclave has been ravaged by the military campaign and is on the brink of starvation.
For war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November.
Because of its war on the enclave, Israel is also facing a genocide prosecution at the International Court of Justice.
Why do Israeli ex-security officials believe Netanyahu's tactics are risky?
More than 180 former senior officers from Mossad, Shin Bet, the military, and police regard Netanyahu’s far-right government as a greater threat than external enemies. They criticize the government’s push to overhaul the judiciary, which they say undermines democratic checks and balances essential for Israel’s resilience.
Netanyahu is seen as prioritizing his political survival over Israel’s security. His focus on maintaining power amidst corruption charges undermines trust between the government and security agencies.
His alliance with extremist far-right and religious parties has led to policies that alienate many Israelis and harm social cohesion.