Former Israeli commanders call on Trump to end Israel’s war on Gaza

A group representing more than 550 former senior officers in the Israeli military and intelligence agencies has called on US President Donald Trump to use his visit to the region to secure the release of captives and end the war in Gaza.

The Commanders for Israel Security asked the US leader in a letter to “end the death and suffering of innocents, launch a Hamas-free ‘morning after’ for the Strip, and pave the way for a regional security coalition that includes Israel”.

The war in Gaza “no longer serves Israel’s national objectives”, the letter said.

“If continued, the war, as well as the aggressive annexation policy on the West Bank, challenges regional stability. Most important, as you have correctly noted, it risks the lives of our hostages," it added.