AhlulBayt News Agency: More than 550 former Israeli security officials have urged US President Donald Trump to intervene and put an end to the ongoing invasion of Gaza while securing the release of captives held there.
The officials sent a letter calling on Trump to push for a ceasefire and prioritize the return of Israeli captives during his regional tour, which includes visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Among the signatories is retired Israeli general Israel Ziv, who previously held several prominent military positions, including serving as the head of the Israeli military’s operations directorate.
Ziv harshly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that Trump's success in securing the release of captive Edan Alexander highlights Netanyahu’s failure, calling it “a painful humiliation.”
On Monday evening, the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, released Israeli-American captive Edan Alexander following negotiations with the Trump administration.
Meanwhile, in the United States, over 800 American healthcare workers have also called on Trump to end Israel’s siege on Gaza and enforce a ceasefire.
In a public letter addressed to President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, the healthcare professionals demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire. They also urged the full reopening of all crossings to allow humanitarian aid, medical access, and treatment for those affected.
Additionally, they called for the release of all Palestinian and Israeli prisoners, particularly more than 160 detained healthcare workers, including Dr. Husam Abu Safiya.
Dr. Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, was arrested by Israeli forces on December 27. His hospital was raided after enduring nearly three months of blockade and relentless airstrikes, which rendered it non-operational.
His lawyer has reported that Abu Safiya and other Palestinian prisoners in Israeli-run detention centers are facing increasingly "inhumane conditions" and torture.
The healthcare workers’ letter urged Trump to take action where former US President Joe Biden did not, warning of a catastrophic medical collapse and mass deaths in Gaza.
“This is our opportunity to save the lives of 2 million people in Gaza,” the letter read. “We are witnessing, in real time, the deliberate starvation of a civilian population as a method of warfare.”
The signatories condemned Israel’s blockade and pointed to US complicity, stating that “the humanitarian situation in Gaza is now worse than ever before.”
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