Israeli Minister Orit Strook Urges Complete Hamas Disarmament, Criticizes War Management

Israeli Minister Orit Strook addressed ongoing disputes over the management of the war against Hamas, criticizing deals she says delayed a decisive victory. Strook emphasized that Israel must not settle for merely rehabilitating Gaza without fully dismantling Hamas. Reflecting on the painful memories of the Simchat Torah massacre nearly three years ago, she highlighted the heavy toll of the attack, including thousands of casualties, hostages, destroyed communities, and a shattered Israeli deterrence.

Strook recalled the government's clear war objectives: to destroy Hamas's rule, eliminate threats from Gaza, and rescue hostages. She praised the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who mobilized for this cause but lamented the difficult conditions under which the war was fought. These included a small military force, international embargoes, legal pressures against Israeli leaders, and campaigns accusing Israel of "starvation" while demanding humanitarian aid be funneled through Hamas.

She revealed that the government, including herself and other Religious Zionist ministers, opposed many decisions that hindered the war effort, such as restrictions on military operations in areas suspected of holding hostages. These limitations created de facto safe zones for Hamas, preventing its defeat and allowing it to maintain its threat. Strook noted that only after the cabinet adopted demands to enter these restricted zones and reject partial ceasefires did the military gain the upper hand, controlling over half of Gaza and securing an agreement for the return of all living hostages.

Despite these gains, Strook warned that Hamas remains intact and refuses to disarm. She strongly rejected new proposals to abandon full disarmament in favor of Gaza reconstruction, arguing that allowing Hamas's population to recover near Israeli communities is unacceptable. Strook concluded with a call to continue the fight until Hamas is completely dismantled, invoking a biblical phrase to underscore Israel's resolve to defeat its enemies.

Summary: Israeli Minister Orit Strook criticized the handling of the war against Hamas, calling for full Hamas disarmament rather than partial ceasefires or Gaza reconstruction. She highlighted the heavy costs of the 2021 massacre, the challenges faced during the war, and the necessity of decisive military action to secure hostages and eliminate threats from Gaza.

Points: 1. Minister Strook criticizes war management and delays caused by partial ceasefires with Hamas. 2. She stresses the war's goal is full Hamas disarmament, not just Gaza rehabilitation. 3. Restrictions on military operations in hostage areas allowed Hamas to maintain strength. 4. Cabinet adoption of tougher demands enabled control of over half of Gaza and hostage agreements. 5. Strook rejects proposals to abandon disarmament, warning against allowing Hamas's population to recover nearby.

Topic: security

Entities: {"people":["Orit Strook","Nitzan Alon"],"organizations":["Hamas","Israeli government","Religious Zionist ministers","IDF","International Criminal Court"],"places":["Gaza","Israel","Rafah"]}