Israeli army chief recommends commander who destroyed Gaza university for senior role

“Israeli army chief recommends commander who destroyed Gaza university for senior role Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Fri, 05/08/2026 - 15:50 Barak Hiram, who ordered tank shells to be fired at a home during the 7 October attacks, is recommended for the post of military secretary Brigadier-General Barak Hiram speaks about the 7 October attacks in a video released by the Israeli military on 11 October 2023 (AFP) Off The Israeli army's chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, has recommended Barak Hiram, a senior commander who was responsible for deadly attacks in Gaza and for Israeli forces firing tank shells at an Israeli home during the 7 October attacks, for the post of military secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli newspaper Ynet reported on Thursday that Hiram is one of two candidates being considered to replace Roman Gofman , a close Netanyahu ally who is expected to leave the role after reportedly being appointed the next head of the Mossad intelligence agency. The other candidate is Tal Politis, a senior Israeli Navy officer. Hiram became a divisive figure in Israel after the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October, when he ordered tank shells to be fired at a house in Kibbutz Beeri where Hamas fighters were holding Israeli captives. Fifteen Israeli civilians were inside the house during the assault. Only two survived. The incident triggered controversy in Israel after Hiram later described his actions in detail in interviews with outlets such as The New York Times and Israel’s Channel 12. Weeks after the attack, Hiram defended how the operation played out, telling Channel 12 that it also resulted in the killing of several Hamas fighters. Israel appoints settler who backs annexation to head powerful land authority Read More » He also said that he did not believe Hamas could be defeated "without entering and occupying the territory", ahead of Israel's ground invasion of Gaza. "I do not know of any ability on our part to destroy Hamas, with its infrastructure and institutions, without entering and occupying the territory," Hiram said. Despite criticism over the Beeri incident, Hiram continued to rise through the ranks of the Israeli military. He later took command of the Gaza Division and was subsequently reported by Israeli media to be in line for the head of the army’s Operations Directorate, one of the military’s most influential posts. In 2024, then-military chief Herzi Halevi reprimanded Hiram over the demolition of a university building in Gaza City. Israeli media reported that the demolition was carried out without senior authorisation and that the building did not pose an immediate threat to Israeli forces. During Hiram's command in Gaza, a unit under the division was implicated in the killing of 15 Palestinian aid workers and paramedics in Tel al-Sultan. No legal action was taken against Hiram in connection with the incident. In 2025, commenting on humanitarian aid entering Gaza in the context of negotiations over Israeli captives, Hiram said the captives would be released "through pressure", echoing calls within Israel's government and military establishment to use restrictions on aid as leverage against Hamas. Growing influence of far right Hiram's possible appointment comes amid what critics describe as the growing influence of settlers and far-right figures within Israel's military leadership. Among them is Avi Bluth, the head of the army's Central Command, who sparked controversy for boasting that Israeli forces were killing Palestinians at levels "not seen since 1967". According to Haaretz, Hiram expressed views aligned with far-right politician Meir Kahane during his youth. Kahane advocated the expulsion of Palestinians, and his Kach movement was later banned in Israel and designated a terrorist organisation by several countries. "Greater Israel was part of his vision already in high school," a former classmate told Haaretz in May 2025. Haaretz also reported that Hiram spent time in an unauthorised settler outpost in the occupied West Bank before later moving to the settlement of Tekoa, southeast of Bethlehem, where he currently lives. When Hiram assumed command of the Gaza Division in August 2024, remarks he made during a speech drew criticism from liberal Israelis. "Our steadfastness stands in complete contrast to the Israeli culture that has developed here, which seeks everything now," Hiram said . He added that the war on Gaza presented an opportunity to secure Israel's future and advance "the shared Zionist vision for which we longed, prayed, and hoped over thousands of generations". Inside Israel Tel Aviv News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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