Israeli Heritage Minister Blames Former Hostages Commander for Kidnappings and Murder

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu sharply criticized retired Major General Nitzan Alon, former head of the Hostages Command, accusing him of bearing responsibility for the kidnappings and murders during the October 7 attacks. Speaking on Galei Tzahal radio, Eliyahu said Alon's "conceptual approach" led to the tragic events, asserting that Alon and his strategy are to blame for the deaths of hostages. Eliyahu argued that if the government had adopted Alon's approach, Hamas would have retained control over large parts of the Gaza Strip, continuing the threat to Israeli border communities. He claimed that a premature withdrawal from Gaza and avoiding entry into Rafah would have left Hamas controlling about 70 percent of the territory.

Eliyahu's comments came a day after Alon publicly criticized the political leadership's handling of the war, stating that the conflict could have ended sooner and that some hostages who were killed might have been rescued under different circumstances. Alon also accused the cabinet and political leaders of rejecting earlier hostage exchange deals in pursuit of a "complete victory," which he called a "lie."

This public dispute highlights ongoing tensions over the management of the war, the hostage situation, and the political decisions made throughout the conflict. The debate reflects deep divisions regarding the balance between military strategy and political considerations in the current crisis.