Israeli defence minister expresses discontent with war tactics in letter to PM

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other members of the Cabinet of Ministers expressing his disagreement with the methods being used in the war.

This information emerged on October 27 evening, and the letter was written shortly before the attack on Iran, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media. 

"The war is being conducted without a clear direction," Gallant wrote. 

"Its objectives should be revised." "The situation in which we operate without a reliable direction and fail to renew the war's objectives undermines both the military campaign and the decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers," Gallant said.

"The importance of recent events, including direct exchanges of strikes between Israel and Iran, compels us to change this situation." 

Gallant proposed a renewed list of four objectives across four zones of war: Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, and Judea and Samaria. 

The objective for the Gaza Strip, as outlined in the letter, is to establish a new reality free from military threats, prevent the enhancement of Hamas' military capabilities, promote an alternative to Hamas, and secure the return of hostages.

However, the objective for the war in Lebanon is proposed as creating a reality that enables residents of the north to return to their houses as soon as possible. 

As for the war in Iran, Gallant suggests the goal should be to deter Iran and ensure its non-involvement in the conflict. 

Gallant stated that the objective for the war in the Arab communities of Judea and Samaria is to prevent an outbreak of violence by combating terrorism.

"Minister Gallant's letter is quite enigmatic. There is one 'direction - the war objectives defined by the Cabinet of Ministers. These objectives are continually renewed, and the list has been recently expanded," the prime minister's office stated in response.  

"We will have to make compromises to fulfill our duty to return the kidnapped," Gallant stated at a state memorial ceremony for war victims on October 27.  

He stated that not every objective can be achieved through military actions. 

Gallant declared that the state must make the necessary compromises for the sake of the kidnapped, for their families, for the soldiers who died, for the legacy of the Israel Defense Forces, and for the sake of Jewish and national identity. 

He added, "This is our responsibility."

By Naila Huseynova