Former US military and intel agents urge Biden to press Netanyahu to change strategy on Gaza
Former US military and intel agents urge Biden to press Netanyahu to change strategy on Gaza
"We are deeply concerned by PM Netanyahu's current military strategy in Gaza. The mounting civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis are unacceptable..."
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US members of Congress have written a letter to Biden urging him to use his leverage on Israel to shift its military strategy in Gaza. [Getty]
A group of US Congress members, including former military and intelligence agents, have sent a letter to President Joe Biden expressing concern about Netanyahu's military strategy in Gaza with mounting civilian casualties, and they are urging him to put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change course.
"We are deeply concerned by PM Netanyahu's current military strategy in Gaza. The mounting civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis are unacceptable and not in line with American interests; nor do they advance the cause of security for our ally Israel." the letter reads.
"We also believe it jeopardizes efforts to destroy the terrorist organization Hamas and secure the release of all hostages," the six lawmakers, all Democrats, continue.
This letter is one of multiple examples of elected officials and civil society trying to appeal to the US administration to pressure the Israeli leader to change tactics. Earlier this month, members of Biden's own staff staged a demonstration outside the White House over US support of Israel in its war in Gaza. At the beginning of the war in Gaza, a senior State Department official resigned over US weapons shipments to Israel, and earlier this month, a memo from members of the department called for a ceasefire.
In their short letter to Biden, the lawmakers point to their experience in national security, saying that from experience military force alone can't destroy an ideology.
"We have dedicated our lives to national security and believe our nation's values are a source of credibility and power. Some of us also spent years fighting America's war on terror. We know from personal and often painful experience that you can't destroy a terror ideology with military force alone. And it can, in fact, make it worse," they write.
"Accordingly, we urge you to continue to use all our leverage to achieve an immediate and significant shift of military strategy and tactics in Gaza."
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