Ehud Olmert on Hamas
TL;DR
Ehud Olmert strongly criticizes Israel's war in Gaza, arguing it endangers hostages and constitutes potential war crimes.
Key Points
He expressed sorrow in 2024 for the death of a Hamas leader's son in a Qatari strike, stating family members should not be victims of counter-terror operations.
Olmert stated that Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip were getting close to constituting a war crime in a May 2025 interview.
He argued that continuing the war after achieving military goals endangers Israeli hostages and makes the campaign illegitimate, as of June 2025.
Summary
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has adopted a strong critical stance regarding Israel's military operation in Gaza, asserting that the ongoing actions risk becoming war crimes and endangering the lives of Israeli hostages. While he initially supported the counteroffensive following the October 7th attack, Olmert later expressed that after months of conflict, the operation became a "private war of the prime minister" driven by political considerations rather than national security, leading to the unjustified killing of many non-involved Palestinians. He stated that almost everything a military operation can achieve has already been accomplished, including eliminating much of Hamas's leadership and infrastructure.
The implication of his evolved position is a call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to facilitate hostage release agreements and a shift toward a political solution. Olmert proposed ending the war, securing the return of hostages through a deal that might include Palestinian prisoners, and committing to a withdrawal contingent on a security force comprised of regional Arab states taking control to prevent Hamas's resurgence. He views the current government’s persistence as an illegitimate campaign, arguing that a large majority of Israelis agree that "enough is enough."
Key Quotes
“We destroyed the military power of Hezbollah. And Syria collapsed. And Hamas is almost completely eradicated,” Ehud Olmert, the prime minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, says in this episode of “ The Ezra Klein Show .”
“All Hamas members should be punished, but the strike in Doha was not in the right place or at the right time.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Ehud Olmert currently holds a strongly critical position on the war in Gaza, arguing that it has become politically motivated and is endangering Israeli hostages. He believes Israel has accomplished most of its military objectives and that the continuation of the conflict is close to meeting the definition of a war crime, according to statements from June 2025.
Yes, his position has evolved significantly, as sources indicate he absolutely supported the initial Israeli counteroffensive after the October 7th attack. However, he later stated that the prolonged nature of the war, as of mid-2025, made it illegitimate and detrimental to Israeli security interests.
He criticized the ongoing reliance on military action when military goals were largely met, and the policy that he viewed as jeopardizing the hostages' lives. Olmert also described a proposed humanitarian city plan as akin to a concentration camp, suggesting an intention to expel Palestinians.