IDF says chief war goal is return of hostages, contradicting Netanyahu’s position

By Emanuel Fabian

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2 May 2025, 6:53 am

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir attends a ceremony marking Memorial Day for Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, on April 29, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

The IDF says that it’s most important goal of the war is returning the 59 hostages still held by Hamas, contrary to the position of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said yesterday that “victory” over the terror group, not the return of the hostages, was the supreme objective of the war in Gaza.

“The supreme mission that the IDF is dealing with is our moral duty to return the hostages. The second mission is defeating Hamas. We are working to advance both goals, with the return of the hostages being at the top [of the list of priorities],” the military says.