Former Israeli POW Chief Claims Gaza War Could Have Ended a Year Earlier

Nitzan Alon, former head of the Israeli POW and Missing Persons Command, stated at the Herzliya Conference at Reichman University that the war in Gaza was prolonged unnecessarily and could have ended at least a year earlier. He highlighted that around 40 hostages who were captured alive died while in captivity. Alon suggested that with different decisions and actions, some of these hostages might have been returned alive.

He also criticized the political leadership, including the cabinet and government, for refusing earlier comprehensive prisoner exchange deals. Alon specifically mentioned that Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who opposed some agreements at various stages, should not claim credit for the return of all hostages. He argued that the leadership's insistence on "absolute victory" was misleading and prevented earlier resolutions that could have saved lives.