Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a sharply worded op-ed published in Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, former U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called on the Israeli government to bring its war in Gaza to a complete halt, urging a permanent ceasefire and the return of hostages in exchange for an end to the fighting. He warned that the current course of military action is leading to an endless war with devastating humanitarian consequences and growing international isolation for Israel.
Sullivan, who served as President Joe Biden’s top security adviser, painted a grim picture of Israel’s current strategy. “Your leaders are pursuing a war without end,” he wrote, “one that will achieve minimal military gains at the cost of a relentless humanitarian catastrophe and horrifying loss of innocent Palestinian lives.” He added that Israel’s global standing is suffering as the conflict drags on, posing long-term risks to both its security and prosperity.
A New Proposal for Peace
Calling for a bold diplomatic move, Sullivan urged Israel to table a new proposal that includes a full and immediate cessation of hostilities in exchange for the return of all hostages both living and deceased. He stressed that such a plan must be final and unconditional, with no room for vague promises or future resumption of military operations.
“Israel is militarily strong, and its enemies are weakened,” he wrote, “but these gains have not been translated into a long-term strategy for peace or security.”
Sullivan argued that only a permanent end to the war could open the door for broader regional stability and normalization of relations with neighboring Arab states. He proposed that, under this plan, Hamas would relinquish administrative control of Gaza to a Palestinian authority backed by regional powers, and the international community would assist in the massive task of rebuilding the war-torn enclave.
Applying the ‘Lebanon Model’ to Gaza
Drawing a comparison to southern Lebanon, where a long-standing ceasefire has largely held despite the presence of Hezbollah fighters, Sullivan said Israel must recognize that total military eradication of Hamas is an unrealistic objective. “Israel has lived with Hezbollah fighters across the border without needing to eliminate every last militant,” he argued, suggesting that the same approach could be applied to Gaza.
He added that Israel is better positioned to prevent Hamas from rearming than it is with Hezbollah in Lebanon, given its greater control over Gaza’s borders. A comprehensive diplomatic strategy, he noted, would also involve working with Arab countries that have perhaps for the first time openly called for Hamas to be disarmed.
Responsibility for Humanitarian Crisis
Sullivan’s commentary did not shy away from holding Israel accountable for the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He rejected official Israeli claims that the famine and deprivation in the Strip are not its responsibility.
“The shocking reality of starving civilians cannot be justified. Nothing justifies this,” Sullivan wrote. “The continuation of the war only worsens the humanitarian crisis.”
He acknowledged the complex and dangerous conditions on the ground but insisted that these challenges do not absolve Israel of its responsibility. “When Israel decides to solve complex and sensitive problems, it has proven time and again that it can. Saying ‘it’s too hard’ is not an acceptable answer to this humanitarian emergency.”
He criticized the Israeli military’s restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, describing them as a “continued siege” that resulted in catastrophic consequences for civilians, particularly children. He also denounced what he called a “disorganized aid distribution system” that has caused further suffering.
Sullivan stressed that while recent humanitarian pauses and aid convoys are steps in the right direction, the only metric that matters is whether the assistance is actually reaching the people who need it. “If aid is not reaching them, then Israel must act to ensure that it does,” he insisted.
Endgame and Ethical Reckoning
Perhaps most provocatively, Sullivan warned that if Israel fails to show that it is not aiming to destroy Gaza and forcibly reduce its population, the consequences will be grave. “The alternative to ending this war is a moral and strategic cost with no real gain except the abhorrent and unacceptable goals of the far right: total destruction of Gaza, depopulation, and settlement expansion.”
He emphasized that Israel must make clear, through both actions and policy, that it rejects this extreme vision. Otherwise, he warned, “the country’s friends will become its critics.”
Ultimately, Sullivan argued, the root of the humanitarian disaster is the continuation of the war itself. “The suffering will not end until the war ends,” he wrote. “And I repeat: this war no longer serves any objective tied to Israel’s security. It’s time to change course, end the war fully, and bring all the hostages home.”
His message was clear and urgent: only by embracing a bold diplomatic pivot can Israel secure both its future and its moral standing in the world.
