The Israeli army appeared to break with the government on Wednesday, saying it could not completely defeat Hamas.
Israel has been at war with Hamas since Oct. 7, when the terrorist group invaded Israel, killing around 1,200 people. More than eight months into the war, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said Wednesday that Hamas is an “idea” that cannot be completely destroyed. according to To the Financial Times. (Related article: ‘Getting wilder’: Biden’s chaotic Gaza dock may be dismantled months earlier than expected)
“Talking about eliminating Hamas is just throwing sand in the eyes of the people,” Hagari told Israel’s Channel 13 on Wednesday night, The Times reported. “Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a party. It is rooted in the hearts of the people. Anyone who thinks they can eliminate Hamas is wrong.”
Israeli army tanks head out to take up positions in areas along Israel’s southern border with the Palestinian Gaza Strip on June 18, 2024, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues. (Photo by Jack Ghez/AFP via Getty Images)
“What we can do is foster something different, an alternative to Hamas. Politicians will decide who replaces Hamas,” Hagari said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office appeared to deny Hagari’s comments, saying Wednesday night that Israel remained “fully committed” to destroying Hamas.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s security cabinet has defined one of the objectives of the war as the destruction of Hamas’ military and government power,” Netanyahu said. office He said Wednesday: “Of course, the IDF is fully committed to this.”
The Israel Defense Forces responded by saying that Hagari was talking about “eliminating the idea and ideology of Hamas” and that to say anything else would be “taking the quote out of context,” according to The New York Times.
The incident highlighted a growing rift between the Israeli army and its government. Netanyahu criticized the IDF’s implementation of a tactical ceasefire along a main road in Gaza last week to allow humanitarian aid to reach the strip. The IDF leadership believes Hamas cannot be completely defeated unless Israel appoints a new governing body to oversee Gaza. according to To the Wall Street Journal.
Nearly a year into the conflict, the Israeli Defense Forces have seen a resurgence of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which the army formerly occupied, according to The Wall Street Journal. Hold The number of operatives scattered throughout the Gaza Strip, mainly in the Rafah neighborhood on the southernmost edge of the enclave, has been reduced from around 30,000 to between 9,000 and 12,000, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
Ceasefire negotiations have been largely unsuccessful. International mediators, including Israel and the United States, have made several overtures to Hamas, most of which have been rejected. President Joe Biden’s latest overture was also rejected by the terror group, and the Biden administration is reportedly concerned that no ceasefire agreement will be reached anytime soon.
The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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