Jerusalem: The Israeli army’s chief spokesman on Wednesday appeared to question the stated goal of destroying the Hamas militant group in Gaza in a rare public rift between the country’s political and military leadership.
PM Netanyahu has insisted Israel will pursue the fight against Hamas until its military and governing capabilities in the Palestinian territory are eliminated.But with the war now in its ninth month, frustration has been mounting with no clear end or postwar plan in sight. “This business of destroying Hamas, making Hamas disappear – it’s simply throwing sand in the eyes of the public,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military spokesperson, told Israel’s Channel 13 TV. “Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a party. It’s rooted in the hearts of the people – whoever thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong.”
Netanyahu’s office responded by saying that the country’s security cabinet, chaired by the PM, “has defined the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities as one of the goals of the war. The Israeli military, of course, is committed to this.” The military quickly issued a clarification, saying it was “committed to achieving the goals of the war as defined by the cabinet” and that it has been working on this “throughout the war, day and night, and will continue to do so.” Hagari’s comments, it said, “referred to the destruction of Hamas as an ideology and an idea”.
There have already been open signs of discontent over the handling of the war. Benny Gantz, an ex-military chief, withdrew from war cabinet this month. Early this week, Netanyahu expressed displeasure with the army’s decision to declare a “tactical pause” in Rafah for humanitarian aid.
