Gantz Says Middle School-Aged Israeli Children Will One Day Fight in Gaza

Gantz is a political rival of Netanyahu and recently called for new elections

Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz said on Wednesday that Israeli children in middle school — who range from 12 to 15 years old — will one day be fighting in the Gaza Strip.

“The war with Hamas will take time. Youth in middle school will one day fight in the Gaza Strip, as in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), and against Lebanon,” he told Israeli media.

While predicting Israel’s brutal campaign in Gaza will last for years and years to come, Gantz also claimed that Israel was beating Hamas. “But the truth must be clear, and the head must be high for our achievements: military-wise – Hamas is defeated. Its fighters are eliminated or in hiding. Its abilities are cut off, and we will continue to hit whatever’s left. Victory will come, step by step. We are on our way to it and we won’t stop,” he said.

Gantz also vowed that Israel will invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is packed with over 1 million Palestinians. “We will go into Rafah, we will return to Khan Yunis, and we will operate in Gaza. Anywhere where there will be terror targets, the IDF will be there. Our freedom of operation in Gaza will remain, be preserved, and be used,” he said.

Gantz, the leader of the National Unity Party, became a member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet after October 7, but he is considered one of the prime minister’s main political rivals. Last month, Gantz traveled to the US and met with US officials on a trip that was not approved by Netanyahu.

Gantz also recently called for new elections, echoing a call made by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other Democrats in the US who are major Israel supporters but are critical of Netanyahu. Gantz is viewed as Netanyahu’s moderate opposition even though he’s a major proponent of the genocidal war in Gaza.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.