Netanyahu’s office stresses unity with military, dismisses ‘false reports’

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Netanyahu and Israel’s military are working together in the country’s war against Hamas, dismissing “false reports” of friction among the entities.

“The Prime Minister, the Defense Minister and the IDF Chief-of-Staff are working in close and full cooperation, around the clock, to lead the State of Israel to a decisive victory over Hamas,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Monday. 

“There is total and mutual trust between the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister and the IDF Chief-of-Staff; the unity of the goal is clear,” the office added. “The media is requested to show responsibility and refrain from false reports that only harm our unity and our forces.” 

The statement from Netanyahu’s office comes as Israeli news outlet Haaretz reported Sunday that Netanyahu is collecting evidence against Israeli’s army in an effort to show the armed forces are to blame for not predicting Hamas’s attack against the country. 

A defense official told the news outlet that Netanyahu’s latest move is questionable, explaining how the military has already taken blame for not anticipating the assault. 

“He is mistaken in believing he can evade accountability after senior military officials have already said they bear responsibility,” the official told Haaretz. “The prime minister has forgotten that he, too, is responsible.”

Haaretz also reported that Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, told the prime minister to gather any information from previous meetings with his security cabinet on defense issues. 

It’s been over two weeks since Hamas, which the U.S. recognizes as a terrorist organization, launched an attack on Israel, killed 1,400 Israelis, including hundreds of civilians in their homes, at a bus stop and at a music festival. Dozens of people remain hostages of Hamas.

In response, Israel has launched attacks on Gaza, an area controlled by Hamas. The Gaza Health Ministry says the reprisals have over 5,000 people.