Ex-IDF General: Israel Could Have Freed Hostages Sooner

Retired Major General Nitzan Alon, who formerly headed the captive and missing persons headquarters, stated that Israel could have shortened the war and returned all hostages perhaps a year earlier. He also suggested that some hostages who died in Gaza might have survived if different decisions had been made. Alon made these remarks during an online conference hosted by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, marking three years since the October 7th massacre.

Addressing questions about whether political considerations, rather than security ones, influenced hostage negotiations, Alon responded that the war was "too long" and the slogan of "absolute victory" was "false." He posited that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, like all leaders, likely balanced strategic perspectives, ideological views, political constraints, and possibly personal matters in his decision-making. Alon reiterated his belief that a different approach could have shortened the war, secured the hostages' return sooner, and saved many lives on both sides.

Alon noted a potential contradiction between the war's objectives of eliminating Hamas and returning hostages. He argued that Israel could have achieved similar strategic goals regarding Hamas's capabilities much earlier, suggesting that the October agreement was not significantly better than what could have been obtained months prior from a strategic standpoint. He also commented on the state of Israeli society, describing it as still in trauma three years after the massacre, with the events likely influencing national perspectives for decades.

He observed that many Israelis have lost faith in the Palestinian side and the two-state solution, with post-October 7th attitudes hardening significantly. Alon attributed this shift partly to Hamas attacking pre-1967 Israeli territory, evoking memories of the Holocaust, and the abduction of women, children, and the elderly, which fostered a deep fear and a sense of having no partner for peace. This has made it difficult for many to distinguish between Hamas and ordinary Palestinians. Alon also mentioned a shift in security thinking towards buffer zones in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

Reflecting on the protests for the hostages, Alon stated that seeing dedicated individuals working for their return gave him strength. However, he called for leadership that faces reality, offers genuine hope, and provides realistic, balanced plans for addressing Israel's security, economic, and social challenges, rather than relying on slogans like "absolute victory."