Netanyahu accuses defense minister of ‘anti-Israel narrative,’ exposing rift over war in Gaza
SMA NEWS – GAZA
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lambasted his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday and accused him of adopting an “anti-Israel narrative,” revealing a deep rupture at the top of the Israeli government as the Middle East risks spiraling into a full-scale regional conflict.
Israeli media reported this week that Gallant, speaking to lawmakers in a private security briefing, had dismissed Netanyahu’s war aim of achieving “absolute victory” over Hamas as “gibberish,” branding those who say this is achievable as “heroes with war drums.”
Netanyahu’s office shot back, saying Gallant’s comments jeopardize talks to release the hostages held in Gaza.
“When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a hostage deal,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement. It said Gallant was obligated to pursue the twin goals of Israel’s war in Gaza: Eliminating Hamas and the release of the hostages seized by Hamas in the October 7 attacks.
The barbed exchange is the latest in a series of spats between the two men during more than 10 months of war, and comes as Israel has been bracing for a possible attack by Iran and its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon. That has prompted the United States to bolster Israel’s defenses, sending a guided missile submarine to the region over the weekend.
Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to avenge the killings last month of Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who died in an explosion in Tehran, and of Hezbollah’s top military commander Fu’ad Shukr, who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in a Beirut suburb.
Iran blamed Haniyeh’s death on Israel, and a source familiar with the matter previously told CNN that Haniyeh was assassinated with an explosive device hidden in the guest house where he was staying.
The death of Haniyeh, who had been a key player in ceasefire talks, threatened to derail the negotiations to halt the war in Gaza and escalate the conflict, with Iran warning that “blood vengeance” for the killing was “certain.” Hezbollah also promised that Shukr’s blood “will not have been shed in vain” and threatened to retaliate, forcing Israel to confront the prospect of a war on multiple fronts.
Critics have accused Netanyahu of being more interested in defeating Hamas and preserving his government than returning the hostages. Far-right members of his coalition have threatened to collapse the government should a deal go through.
There is growing frustration in the international community with some of these far-right ministers, as Western leaders push for a deal.
On Monday, the European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell told CNN he would put forward a proposal at the EU to sanction far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir.
Borrell had called for sanctions against Smotrich and Ben Gvir in a post on X, days after Smotrich said it would be “moral” to starve two million Gazans until Israeli hostages are freed.
“The EU has no taboo in activating its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against any individual involved in serious violations of Human Rights, like the Hamas operatives and extremist Israeli settlers we already sanctioned,” Borrell told CNN in a statement on Monday.
“Since last October, Ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir statements inciting to hate and activities related to humanitarian aid clearly fall into this category,” the EU foreign policy chief added.
A group of hostage families on Saturday accused the prime minister of “gambling” with the lives of the hostages to ensure that his government survives, according to the Times of Israel.
