Hagari and Netanyahu clashing over meaning of "destroying Hamas"

Following an interview he gave in which he said Hamas cannot be defeated "as an ideology" and that anyone who says differently is deceiving the public according to AFP, IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari engaged in a sharp exchange with Prime Minister's Netanyahu's office over the meaning of the term "destruction."

The PMO said that "The Security Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has defined the destruction of Hamas' military and governing capabilities as one of the goals of the war.

The IDF, of course, is committed to this."

The IDF replied that "the IDF is committed to achieving the goals of the war as defined by the cabinet, has done so throughout the whole war, day and night, and so it will continue.

"IDF commanders and subordinates fight with determination and persistence to destroy the military capabilities and the governance and organizational infrastructure of Hamas in Gaza, a clear military goal."

They then addressed Hagari's statement itself: "The IDF Spokesperson addressed the destruction of Hamas as an ideology and idea in his words and these things were said by him clearly and explicitly. Any other claim is taking things out of context."