A group of 19 former Israeli security officials, including ex-prime ministers, intelligence heads, and military chiefs, have released a powerful video urging an immediate end to the ongoing war in Gaza.
The video, released on Monday, features the officials seated around a table in a stark office setting, warning that the war—initially launched as a legitimate act of self-defense—has now lost its justification.
“This war started as a just war… but once we achieved our military objectives, it stopped being just,” said Ami Ayalon, former director of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency. “It is now threatening the security and identity of Israel.”
Among those featured are former prime minister and army chief Ehud Barak, ex-military chiefs Moshe Ya’alon and Dan Halutz, and three former Mossad directors. They collectively accuse the current Israeli leadership of prolonging the conflict for political gain.
“We are on the precipice of defeat,” warned Tamir Pardo, former Mossad chief, adding that the war has strayed from its original goals and is now eroding Israel’s moral and strategic standing.
The group is calling for a negotiated agreement that ensures the return of all remaining 50 hostages still believed to be held by Hamas, insisting it’s time to shift focus from military operations to diplomatic solutions.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began in October 2023 following Hamas-led attacks that killed over 1,200 people and led to hundreds of abductions. Despite months of indirect negotiations, efforts to secure a ceasefire and release hostages have so far failed to yield results.