Mofaz: “No Victory Without the Abductees”
In a recent interview, Chief of Staff and former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz emphasized the importance of not stopping until all abductees are returned. He stated, “there is no victory without the abductees, all the abductees. We must not agree to concessions, or to agree that only part of them will be returned to us.” Mofaz also emphasized the need to dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities for a true victory.
Mofaz criticized Israel’s consent to humanitarian aid as a “terrible mistake”. He argued that Israel should have demanded a visit by the Red Cross and insisted on Israel’s interests first. He also referenced Golda Meir’s refusal to agree to a deal with the Egyptians until there was information about the prisoners in the Yom Kippur War and an exchange of prisoners.
According to Mofaz, the IDF needs to continue moving forward, working slowly and efficiently, without a truce or stopping. He stated, “the IDF should continue with all its might and not stop, it works correctly and precisely.”
Mofaz also called for the use of force, stating “what doesn’t go with strength – has to go with more strength”. He defended the decision to launch a pre-emptive attack on Hezbollah and emphasized the importance of ensuring that Hezbollah does not sit on Israel’s border at the end of the campaign.
Mofaz harshly criticized the government’s conduct during the war, calling for the Prime Minister and ministers to visit the evacuees who experienced the recent trauma. He criticized the government’s handling of the evacuees’ needs, stating “the country has been shaken, we are all in a very difficult mourning – but we are fighting. Where the hell is the government? Even if they don’t accept them, they have to show willingness. This disconnect shows the government’s incompetence to function in difficult situations.”