Likud Condemns Former Hostages Commander Nitzan Alon for Criticizing Hamas Negotiations

Former head of the Israeli Prisoners and Missing Persons Command, Major General (res.) Nitzan Alon, sharply criticized the political leadership during a speech at the Herzliya Conference at Reichman University on Wednesday. Alon accused the government of rejecting comprehensive prisoner exchange deals in favor of partial agreements aimed at prolonging the conflict, calling the pursuit of "complete victory" a lie. He also blamed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for opposing some agreements and questioned his credit for the return of hostages. Alon expressed deep regret that around 40 hostages who were abducted alive died in captivity, suggesting that different decisions or negotiations could have saved them and ended the war earlier.

In addition to the hostage issue, Alon condemned government policies in the West Bank, warning against the influence of "Hilltop Youth" activists who have gained significant government roles and allegedly operate militias, pushing Israel toward an "apartheid state" reality. These remarks provoked a swift and harsh response from the ruling Likud party, which accused Alon of wanting to surrender to Hamas by advocating withdrawal from Gaza and ending the war prematurely. Likud defended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach, stating that if Netanyahu had followed Alon's advice, Israel would not have achieved key military successes such as securing Rafah, the Philadelphi route, eliminating Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, establishing security zones, controlling most of Gaza, and returning all hostages.

The Likud party also criticized Alon for leaking sensitive information from secret negotiations, which they said harmed the process. Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to Alon's speech, but the party's remarks underscored the political tensions surrounding the handling of the conflict and hostage negotiations. The debate highlights ongoing divisions within Israel over how to balance military action, diplomacy, and prisoner exchanges amid fears that Hamas might exploit any perceived weakness for further terror attacks.