News- Middle East: A group of former Israeli intelligence leaders has appealed for a cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, as aid agencies are warning that without an immediate ceasefire, the besieged territory is “spiraling into an irreversible humanitarian collapse.”

In a video broadcast by Israeli media outlets, former leaders of the regime’s Mossad spy agency, internal spy agency Shin Bet, police, and military intelligence all urged an end to Israel's longest war since its illegal creation in 1948.

They declared that they had dispatched a letter, endorsed by 550 former security officials, to US President Donald Trump, urging him to exert pressure on prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the matter.

“Stop the Gaza War! On behalf of [Commanders for Israel’s Security], Israel’s largest group of former Israeli army generals and Mossad, Shin Bet, Police, and Diplomatic Corps equivalents, we urge you to end the Gaza war,” it read.

“You did it in Lebanon. Time to do it in Gaza as well.”

The signatories comprise five former leaders of Shin Bet: Ami Ayalon, Nadav Argaman, Yoram Cohen, Yaakov Peri, and Carmi Gillon. Additionally, three former chiefs of staff of the military are included, among them former prime minister Ehud Barak and former minister of military affairs Moshe Yaalon.

The letter referenced the situation of the Israeli captives in Gaza, who, along with the Palestinians, are enduring the consequences of a restrictive Israeli aid blockade, as a key justification for ceasing hostilities.

“It is our professional judgment that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel, and our experience tells us that Israel has all it takes to deal with its residual terror capabilities, remotely or otherwise,” they said.

“Chasing remaining senior Hamas operatives can be done later. Our hostages can’t wait.”

Approximately 50 captives taken during the large-scale Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by Gaza-based Palestinian resistance groups on October 7, 2023, are believed to remain in the territory.

The majority of the 251 individuals captured in the operation were freed during two short-lived truces.

Authorities in Gaza say more than 22,000 humanitarian aid trucks are waiting outside the Strip, as an average of 84 trucks have entered the besieged territory since Israel somewhat eased restrictions on July 27.

Aid organizations say at least 600 aid trucks are needed per day to meet the territory’s basic needs.

The Israeli military has disregarded global appeals for a ceasefire and continued its campaign in Gaza.

Since October 7, 2023, the regime has massacred over 60,800 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, according to figures by the Health Ministry of Gaza. The atrocious campaign has ravaged the territory and pushed it to the brink of famine.

In November 224, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its campaign of genocide in Gaza.

Source: Press TV