Retired Israeli General Accuses Netanyahu of Exploiting Gaza War for Political Gain

Watan-The statements of retired Israeli General Noam Tibon sparked widespread controversy within the Israeli establishment after he sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of using the war on Gaza for political purposes and prioritizing his personal interests over the lives of Israeli soldiers and captives.

Tibon, whose brother is one of the captives held by Hamas, confirmed that the assault on Gaza failed to achieve its goals despite its brutality. In a rare admission, he stated that military pressure did not free the captives but instead led to the deaths of some of them, pointing out that 41 hostages were killed either during Israeli airstrikes or by the resistance amid the chaos of the fighting. He added: “In the end, it was the prisoner exchange deal that brought some of them home—not the bombing, and not the escalation.”

General Tibon didn’t stop there. He went on to praise Hamas for adhering to the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, confirming that the group fulfilled its commitments and released the captives according to the agreed timeline, while Netanyahu halted the second phase for “coalition and electoral” reasons.

Tibon’s remarks come at an extremely sensitive time, as Israel estimates that 59 Israeli captives remain in Gaza, while over 9,500 Palestinian prisoners are being held in Israeli jails, subjected to severe torture and medical neglect.

The general, known for his bold positions, has become the loudest voice within the military establishment exposing the Netanyahu government’s failure in handling the prisoner file, accusing Israeli leadership of putting political interests ahead of national security.

These statements reflect the fragility of the official Israeli narrative and increase pressure on Netanyahu, who is facing unprecedented internal criticism amid the ongoing war of attrition.