Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar consistently pushed for an end to the war in Gaza through a comprehensive hostage deal with Hamas, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth daily.
Bar’s position, which he made clear to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the political echelon, was that Israel would gain little from the continuation of the war, according to the report. Hamas will always be in Gaza, he argued, as long as Palestinians are.
He argued for a comprehensive deal to release all the hostages, and a policy of striking Hamas every time they violate the conditions of the ceasefire.
To date, Netanyahu and his cabinet have rejected that approach, aiming for a staged deal that would see the war end only if Hamas disarms and its leaders go into exile.
Bar stepped down earlier this month after a public and increasingly bitter campaign by Netanyahu to oust him.
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