From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Israeli politicians hail strike on Hamas leaders
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Politicians across the political spectrum celebrate this afternoon’s apparent Israeli airstrike against Hamas leaders in Qatar.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid releases a statement congratulating “the Air Force, IDF, Shin Bet and all security forces for an extraordinary operation to thwart our enemy,” although he does not mention anybody belonging to the political echelon.
Unlike Lapid, Blue and White-National Unity chairman Benny Gantz commends “the political echelon” for its decision to launch the strike, stating that Israel “must pursue Hamas terrorists and their leaders everywhere and at all times.”
“The most important thing now: not to miss opportunities. Leverage the achievements of our fighters to bring back all the hostages and replace Hamas rule in Gaza,” he tweets.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich tweets that “terrorists do not have and will not have immunity from the long arm of Israel anywhere in the world.”
“We made a correct decision and it was perfectly executed by the IDF and Shin Bet,” he writes, thanking God.
“Jewish blood is no longer cheap. The decision we made to attack those who brought upon us the massacre of October 7 is another historic decision in a series of important and historic decisions we have made,” declares National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. “I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed,” he adds, quoting from Psalm 18.
“Thus shall all thy enemies perish, O Lord. Israel’s long hand will not be shortened in the face of any enemy, whoever it may be,” posts Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, congratulating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his cabinet and Israel’s security forces “for a precise and lethal operation.”
Negev, Galilee and National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf tweets “to every place we want in every way we choose” alongside flexing muscle and Israeli flag emojis, while fellow Otzma Yehudit lawmaker Almog Cohen posts a photo of senior Hamas leaders with with the word “revenge” in Arabic.
انتقام! pic.twitter.com/Ov0buXySXA
— אלמוג כהן Almog cohen (@almog_cohen08) September 9, 2025
“The time has come to punish the little devil, the backbone of the great devil,” declares Likud MK Avichai Boaron, while Otzma Yehudit MK Zvika Fogel enthuses that the Qataris, who have been involved in mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas, “have learned a new form of negotiation under fire.”
Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot insists that “there is no move that brings the return of the hostages closer than the elimination of Hamas leaders.”
“The leaders of Hamas are marked for death. Every one of them. Our hostages are not. Netanyahu’s test after 704 days is one: the swift return of all hostages and the end of the war,” tweets The Democrats MK Gilad Kariv.
The Times of Israel Community.