‘Hamas no longer poses a stratgeic threat’: Former security chiefs call for end of ‘futile’ Gaza War

"The IDF has long accomplished the two objectives that could be achieved by force: dismantling Hamas’ military formations and governance. The third, and most important, can only be achieved through a deal: bringing all hostages home.

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

And, in an interview with Israeli TV, Ayalon added: “We have a duty to stand up and say what we have to say.

"We are on the precipice of defeat, the war started as a just war, it was a defensive war.

"But once we achieved all its military objectives, once we achieved a brilliant military victory against all our enemies, this war stopped being a just war.

"This is leading the State of Israel to the loss of its security and identity.”

The Prime Minister’s Office is yet to comment on the CIS letter. However, in a recorded address yesterday, Netanyahu appeared to indicate that the war will continue until Hamas surrenders.

Commenting on newly-released videos of hostages Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, which showed both men visibly malnourished and in poor health, he said: “When I see this, I understand exactly what Hamas wants. It doesn’t want a deal. It wants to break us through these horrific videos, through the false horror propaganda it spreads around the world.

“But we will not break. I am filled with even stronger determination to free our kidnapped sons, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to the State of Israel.”