Netanyahu’s top adviser says ‘Hamas is an idea’ that can’t be defeated with force, Gaza needs alternative

Tzachi Hanegbi speaking at the Herzliya Conference hosted by Reichman University, Herzliya, on 24 June 2024

Jonathan Lis reports in Haaretz on 25 June 2024:

The head of Israel’s National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, told the Herzliya Security Conference on Tuesday that “Hamas as an idea can’t be eliminated,” therefore Israel needs to present Palestinians with “an alternative idea and not just destroy its military capabilities.”

That alternative, he said, could be “local leadership that is ready to live alongside Israel and not dedicate its existence to trying to kill Israelis.”

Hanegbi told the conference that the cabinet had authorized the army to find an alternative leadership to Hamas months ago, and that they have been working on plans to materialize that objective.  In the last several weeks, Hanegbi said, those plans have developed and will be initially implemented in the Northern Gaza Strip.  “I expect that in the coming days we will see the concrete realization of this plan,” he said. “We believe in it and believe it will put Hamas under great pressure.”

Hanegbi added that Amos Hochstein, U.S. President Joe Biden’s special envoy to Lebanon, is optimistic about reaching diplomatic arrangements on the border with Lebanon.  Hanegbi said that Hochstein believes that “in the near future, after the intensive operation in Rafah ends, Hezbollah will have a kind of ladder from which to climb down from the solidarity it has demonstrated during the campaign in Gaza, and we can start talking about arrangements in the north.”  He warned that “If there isn’t an arrangement made through diplomacy, then an arrangement will have to be made other ways.”

Hanegbi also addressed the hostage negotiations issue, saying that the proposal presented by Biden was a “very generous Israeli proposal.” As a result, Hanegbi said, “the entire world is pressuring Hamas. Qatar is pressuring Hamas to accept the deal as it is.”

“We need to stand united around this proposal because it will initiate an overall move to return all the hostages,” he urged, warning that “time is working against the hostages.”

Hanegbi’s remarks come amid increasing criticism from the defense establishment about the lack of a political exit strategy that can facilitate the end of the Gaza campaign.

In closed discussions, senior defense and political figures have faulted the government’s stated goal of bringing about “the collapse of Hamas rule and the destruction of its military capability” was formulated without realistic and measurable goals.  Senior officials have repeatedly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foot-dragging on planning for the day-after the war and establishing an alternative to Hamas rule that will weaken its political grip on Gaza.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 13 last week, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that “idea of destroying Hamas is throwing sand in the face of the Israeli public.”  “Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a political party. It is rooted in the hearts of people – whoever thinks we can eliminate Hamas is mistaken,” Hagari continued. “[Hamas] is the Muslim Brotherhood, it’s been around for many, many years.”

Hagari made clear that the way to weaken the organization is to build up an alternative rule in Gaza, which is the job of Israel’s political leadership.

In response, Netanyahu said that “the security cabinet defined one of the war’s goals as the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities” and that the Israeli army “is of course obligated to this.”

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