MK Benny Gantz accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of emboldening Hamas and contributing to the prolongation of the war in Gaza on Thursday, following remarks made by the Spanish leader in a recent interview.
The exchange occurred on X/Twitter, where Gantz responded to comments made by Sánchez during an interview with CNN’s Amanpour & Company.
In the interview, Sánchez questioned the framing of the ongoing conflict as a “war on terrorism” and criticized Israel’s strategy in Gaza.
“The big mistake is to call it a ‘war against terrorism,’ because it’s more complex,” Sánchez said. “How do we marginalize Hamas support within Palestinian society? And this is not happening today because there’s only bombing from the Israeli government.”
Sánchez argued that current military actions are not weakening Hamas’s hold on the population and called for a strategy that focuses on undermining its support within Palestinian society.
Gantz responds: 'You have empowered them'
Gantz responded on X, calling Sánchez’s statements counterproductive and accusing him of creating a false comparison between Islamist terror and European separatist movements.
'It seeks to annihilate you and replace you'
“Unlike the ETA, fundamental Islamist terror cannot be negotiated or compromised with, it seeks to annihilate you and replace you. They declare so proudly and openly,” Gantz wrote.
“That is exactly the false, counterproductive symmetry you make. Instead of ‘marginalizing’ them, you have empowered them and elevated them in Palestinian society after October 7, and your actions have only emboldened them to keep refusing a hostage deal.”
Gantz added: “It is you and the likes of you who are emboldening Hamas to prolong the war and the suffering in Gaza.”