Hostage Release Was Not Primary War Aim, Israeli Document Reveals

An official document outlining the objectives of the war in Gaza, distributed early in the conflict, designated the "maximum effort to resolve the hostage issue" as a secondary goal, while other aims like "dismantling Hamas's rule and military capabilities" were stated as mandatory outcomes. This contrasts sharply with the prevailing public opinion in Israel, where polls consistently showed the return of all hostages as the paramount war objective. Former head of the Captives and Missing Persons Directorate, Nitzan Alon, stated that "the leadership refused deals... in the name of a false 'absolute victory,'" and revealed that approximately 40 hostages initially held alive have since died in captivity. The article also details instances where Israeli military actions inadvertently led to the deaths of hostages, and where IDF soldiers mistakenly killed hostages who had escaped and were attempting to signal for help.

Several ministers, including Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir from far-right parties, actively opposed potential hostage release deals, threatening to dissolve the government if agreements were pursued. These ministers argued that defeating Hamas was a higher priority than securing the hostages' return. Despite these objections, public opinion, as reflected in multiple surveys from late 2023 and 2024, overwhelmingly favored prioritizing hostage release, even at the cost of prolonged military operations. A significant portion of the public supported deals that would involve releasing Palestinian prisoners, a stance also supported by prominent rabbis citing Jewish law.

The article further highlights that the government's stated war aims evolved over time, with new objectives added, some of which were allegedly "hidden from the public." The decision-making process regarding hostage negotiations was also criticized, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu being accused of avoiding full cabinet discussions on potential deals. The article presents a timeline of key events, including military actions, public opinion shifts, and political opposition to hostage release agreements, underscoring the disconnect between official policy and public sentiment, and the tragic consequences for many hostages.