JPost strikes again, claiming IDF Chief Eyal Zamir said, "The IDF is only worthy if it returns the hostages"

On the eve of Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s solemn Remembrance Day, a Jerusalem Post article sparked outrage by framing IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir’s Mount Herzl speech as declaring the return of hostages held by Hamas as the test of the IDF’s worthiness as Israel’s defenders.

This reductive narrative, published today, not only misrepresents Zamir’s words but also disrespects the sacrifices of fallen soldiers and ignores Israel’s complex, seven-front war. As Israel defends 7 million citizens against Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, and others, the article’s focus on hostages as the sole metric feels ridiculous.

Here, we debunk the misleading claims, drawing on Zamir’s broader mission, recent Israeli news, and the realities of 2025’s security landscape.

The Article’s Flawed Framing

The Jerusalem Post reported that Zamir, speaking at a Mount Herzl ceremony honoring Israel’s fallen security forces, said, “It is our ethical obligation to return our hostages [held by Hamas] to their homes – this is the test of being the Israeli Defense Forces.”

The article suggests this was Zamir’s primary message, even speculating he might be “maneuvering” against government factions prioritizing Hamas’s defeat over hostages.

In reality, Zamir’s speech, as corroborated by sources like the Times of Israel and IDF statements, balanced multiple priorities: returning hostages, defeating Hamas, and securing Israel’s future. He emphasized “victory” and a “secure future” alongside the “moral duty” to free hostages, reflecting the IDF’s multi-faceted mission. The article cherry-picks the hostage comment, exaggerating its prominence and ignoring Zamir’s call for “unity, cohesiveness, and victory” in a multi-front war.

Disrespecting the Fallen on Yom HaZikaron

The timing of this narrative, just before Yom HaZikaron, when Israel honors over 25,000 fallen soldiers since 1948, including 760 killed since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, makes it particularly jarring.

Zamir, joined by Mossad Director David Barnea and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, paid tribute to fallen agents, with Barnea saluting “our heroes, you who lost your lives for the homeland.” The ceremony at Mount Herzl, a sacred site, centered on these sacrifices, not just hostages. By fixating on one line, the article risks diminishing the memory of those who died defending Israel against existential threats, from Gaza to Iran.

Reducing the IDF’s worth to hostage recovery disrespects soldiers facing seven fronts: Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Houthi attacks from Yemen, Syrian instability, Judean and Samaria terrorism. Zamir’s actual remarks honored the fallen while addressing ongoing security, but the article’s selective focus feels tone-deaf.

Israel’s Seven-Front War

Israel’s 2025 security challenges underscore why the hostage narrative is reductive.

Zamir, who took office on March 5, 2025, has declared this a “year of war” against Hamas and Iran, with operations spanning multiple arenas:

These fronts protect 7 million Israelis, making the article’s hostage focus a gross oversimplification. A Gaza social media video, circulated today, captures local frustration, “Who destroyed us? Hamas. Who threw us into tents? Hamas”, demonstrates the need to defeat Hamas, not just retrieve hostages. Zamir’s actions, like weekly meetings with hostage families and approving Gaza operations, reflect this dual commitment.

Political Speculation Without Evidence

The article’s claim that Zamir might be “maneuvering” against government elements favoring Hamas’s defeat over hostages lacks evidence. Zamir aligns with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, consistently supporting both hostage recovery and Hamas’s destruction.

On April 23, 2025, he told hostage families their return is a “supreme task,” but his Gaza strategy shows no rift with Netanyahu’s policies. The speculation is baseless, projecting internal debates onto Zamir without substantiation, a tactic that stokes division rather than clarity.

Similarly, the article downplays Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar’s tensions with Netanyahu over October 7 failures and legal disputes, framing his ceremony remarks as personal reflection. This sanitizes the defense establishment’s internal strains, presenting a falsely cohesive front.

Debunking the Nonsense

The article’s narrative fails on multiple fronts:

Zamir’s True Stance

Zamir’s record shows a balanced approach. He keeps hostage photos in his office, meets their families weekly, and calls their return a “moral duty.” Yet, he’s equally committed to “destroying Hamas,” restructuring the IDF for Iran, and integrating Haredi recruits to strengthen national defense.

At Mount Herzl, his hostage remarks reflected the ceremony’s emotional weight, many fallen soldiers died in hostage-related operations, but victory and security were core themes.

The Jerusalem Post’s portrayal of Zamir’s speech as a hostage-centric “test” is misleading and disrespectful, especially on Yom HaZikaron. Israel’s IDF defends 7 million people across seven fronts, from Hamas’s tunnels to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Reducing this to one metric dishonors the fallen and ignores Zamir’s comprehensive strategy.

As Gaza residents blame Hamas for destruction, and Iran threatens retaliation, the IDF’s role as a multi-faceted defender is clear. Israel deserves a narrative that honors its soldiers’ sacrifices and the full scope of its fight for survival.

The article's selective framing, turning a nuanced speech into a divisive headline, makes us wonder what has happened to JPost? Where has their balanced reporting gone? Why are they now more and more anti-Government and left-wing? And do we even want to read them anymore?

Sources: The Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, IDF statements, X posts, and recent Israeli news reports.