In a surprising turn of events, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has publicly challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s objective of defeating Hamas in Gaza. During an interview with Israel’s Channel 13, Hagari labeled the notion of eradicating Hamas as not only impractical but also misleading to the public. “This business of destroying Hamas, making Hamas disappear – it’s simply throwing sand in the eyes of the public,” Hagari stated. “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.”
These comments have laid bare a growing schism between Israel’s military leadership and its political echelon. Hagari’s remarks come after nine months of intense conflict, which has seen over 37,000 Palestinian lives lost, all under the banner of eliminating Hamas.
Netanyahu’s office was reportedly furious about Hagari’s public dissent. A swift response from the Prime Minister’s office underscored that the security cabinet, headed by Netanyahu, has explicitly defined the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities as a primary war objective. The military, in a subsequent statement, reaffirmed its commitment to these goals, emphasizing its dedication to the cabinet’s directives, working “day and night.”The military further clarified that Hagari’s comments were intended to distinguish between destroying Hamas as a military entity and the unrealistic goal of eradicating it as an ideology. “Any other claim is taking things out of context,” the military statement added.
Political analyst Akiva Eldar highlighted the unprecedented nature of this rift, noting that Hagari’s comments severely undermine Netanyahu’s long-standing doctrine of permanently eliminating Hamas. Eldar pointed out that such internal conflicts between the military and political leaders have not been seen in recent years.Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, Jordan, commented on the severity of the situation, saying, “This just gives you an idea of what Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies are in this war, and the army on the ground saying it is actually not realistic.”
The discord between Netanyahu and the military is occurring against a backdrop of a stalled ceasefire. International mediation efforts, including a proposal by U.S. President Joe Biden, have yet to yield results. The war cabinet has also seen internal fractures, with former military chief Benny Gantz withdrawing earlier this month due to dissatisfaction with Netanyahu’s handling of the war.Furthermore, Netanyahu recently expressed his displeasure over the army’s decision to implement a “tactical pause” in Rafah to allow humanitarian aid. This move reportedly took Netanyahu by surprise, leading to a public assertion that “We have a country with an army, not an army with a country.”
It is important to note that Al Jazeera is reporting from outside Israel due to a government ban on their operations within the country. This restriction underscores the contentious and highly sensitive nature of the ongoing conflict and the reporting around it.The public disagreement between Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari and Prime Minister Netanyahu has highlighted significant strategic differences within Israel’s leadership regarding the Gaza conflict. As the war continues with no clear end in sight, the ramifications of this internal discord could have profound impacts on both Israeli policy and the broader regional stability.
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