The spokesman for Israel’s military has said the idea of eliminating Hamas is “wrong,” setting him at loggerheads with his own prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari’s comments Wednesday suggested there is a rift between military and political leaders over how the war in Gaza is being conducted.
“This business of destroying Hamas, making Hamas disappear — it’s simply throwing sand in the eyes of the public,” Hagari told Channel 13 news in an interview. “Hamas is an idea. Hamas is a party. It’s rooted in the hearts of the people — anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong.”
“If the government doesn’t find an alternative — [Hamas] will remain” in the Gaza Strip, he added.
Hagari’s comments represent long-held criticisms of Israel’s government for its goal to eradicate Hamas completely.
Netanyahu’s office indirectly responded to Hagari’s comments, saying, “The Security Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has defined the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities as one of the goals of the war. The IDF, of course, is committed to this.”
Following the statement from the prime minister’s office, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit issued its own clarification, emphasizing that the army is “committed to achieving the goals of the war as defined by the Cabinet” and claiming that Hagari “referred to the destruction of Hamas as an ideology and an idea, and this was said by him very clearly and explicitly. Any other claim is taking things out of context.”
Hagari’s comments appear to be the latest criticism of Netanyahu’s limited public explanation of what his plans are for Gaza for the “day after.”
Israel’s war in Gaza began in October after Hamas carried out the largest terrorist attack in the country’s history, leaving roughly 1,200 people dead. They kidnapped more than 250 others. About half the hostages were released during a weeklong temporary ceasefire in late November, but the terrorist group has not released anyone else since then.
Israeli forces have carried out hostage rescue operations to save a handful of those being held by Hamas.
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The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have acted as mediators over the course of the war. The countries have repeatedly brought ceasefire proposals to both sides, but none have been agreed upon since that November pause.
It’s unclear how many of the hostages are still alive, though U.S. intelligence believes that number could be as low as fifty, according to the Wall Street Journal.
