Israel should never have gone to war with Hamas

Israeli tech entrepreneur Dov Moran set off a firestorm in a Thursday morning interview on Galei Israel radio, declaring that Israel “shouldn’t have gone to war with Hamas” the day after the October 7, 2023, massacre. Moran, a prominent figure behind the USB flash drive, doubled down, advocating for a Palestinian state and arguing that the war’s massive economic cost, tens of billions of dollars annually, burdens Israeli taxpayers. His comments, made amid Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, including Wednesday’s thwarted Khan Younis attack, have drawn sharp criticism as the nation grapples with security and economic strain.

Speaking with hosts Guy Bossi and Itamar Fleischman, Moran unequivocally supported a Palestinian state, saying, “I’m for it.” When Fleischman questioned whether he’d accept a Hamas-run state, Moran replied, “I don’t interfere with them,” emphasizing his priority is Israel’s interests. He argued that occupying Gaza costs “tens of billions of dollars a year,” asking, “Where does that come from? Our pockets.” On the war, which he called a “huge fortune” in losses, Moran insisted Israel should have avoided fighting on October 8, 2023. Instead, he proposed demanding the return of hostages in exchange for prisoners and then “choking Hamas from every direction” by cutting off its funding, a strategy he claims Israel failed to pursue earlier.

Moran’s stance has ignited backlash on X, with users like @Osint613 calling it “naive” given Hamas’s stated goal of destroying Israel. Critics point to Hamas’s looting of aid, stockpiling $700 million while Gazans face famine and its recent attacks as evidence that non-military approaches have failed. Supporters, however, praise Moran’s focus on economic pragmatism, citing Israel’s $473 million Gaza aid commitment and military shortages as proof of overextension. As debates rage and global criticism mounts, Moran’s remarks highlight deep divisions over Israel’s path forward in a seemingly never-ending war.