Former Hostages Directorate Head Nitzan Alon Accused of Spreading Falsehoods

Nitzan Alon, who previously headed the Hostages and Missing Persons Directorate, is now claiming that all hostages could have been released a year earlier without compromising the war's achievements. The article vehemently disputes this assertion, labeling it a "gross lie" and "unprecedented audacity" that aligns with opposition parties' campaigns, particularly ahead of the October 7th memorial events. The author argues that such a premature ceasefire would have prevented the elimination of Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, allowed the IDF to seize control of only 70% of Gaza, and would have left Hamas in power.

Instead, the article highlights the significant achievements of the past year, including the dismantling of Hamas battalions, the destruction of extensive tunnel networks, and the elimination of hundreds of kilometers of tunnels. It contends that these gains would not have been realized if the war had stopped as Alon allegedly advocated. The piece asserts that Israel is not bound by any commitment to withdraw from Gaza or cease the war, maintaining its right to dismantle Hamas itself if the organization fails to disarm.

While acknowledging the pain of hostages who died in captivity, the article posits that releasing them a year earlier would have necessitated Israel forfeiting its strategic gains. This would have meant allowing Hamas to rebuild, rearm, and resume its terror operations, with Sinwar and Deif potentially leading the reconstruction and planning future attacks. The author criticizes Alon's statement about preventing "bloodshed on both sides" as adopting the enemy's narrative and equating Hamas murderers with IDF soldiers, suggesting he was unfit for his previous sensitive role.