Group of former senior officials warns Gaza aid crisis threatening Israel’s ‘vital interests’

A group representing 550 former Israeli senior officials has penned a letter to the war cabinet warning of “cumulative damage to Israel’s security and strategic interests caused by the government’s policy on humanitarian aid for over two million Gaza non-combatants.”

“Beyond the moral aspects, the crisis in the Gaza Strip, which is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster, poses a threat to vital national interests,” states the letter penned by Commanders for Israel’s Security, which lobbies for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The government must revamp its approach to this issue: stop quarreling with friends and others over every delivery of assistance, significantly expand aid quantity, its transportation and the number of dedicated crossings, while ensuring safe distribution to the two million non-combatants,” Commanders for Israel’s Security states.

“The damage caused by the policy of humanitarian stinginess, like that of outrageous statements of irresponsible ministers and MKs, undermines the foundations of security and diplomatic support for Israel emanating from capitals that are most important for our security.”

“We urge you all to restrain the extremist firebrands, prioritize Israel’s security and strategic interests over coalition considerations, and urgently lead extensive humanitarian aid efforts, before the IDF freedom to operate in the Strip, Israel’s freedom to shape the Strip’s future, and our relations with the US, Arab peace partners, Europe and the international community suffer irreparable damage,” the letter adds.