Netanyahu, Israeli Leaders Condemn Yair Golan’s Gaza Children Comments

Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan sparked a major controversy after stating that Israel kills children in Gaza "as a hobby," comments that drew widespread condemnation across the Israeli political spectrum. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Golan's remarks "shocking" and "contemptible antisemitic blood libels," defending the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as the "most moral army in the world" that takes great care to avoid civilian harm. Other senior Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, denounced Golan’s statements as false slander that fuels global antisemitism and damages Israel's international standing. The Zionist Organization of America also condemned Golan, labeling him a traitor and warning that his rhetoric dangerously empowers Israel’s enemies and antisemitic propaganda. Opposition figures including Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, and Naftali Bennett distanced themselves from Golan's comments, emphasizing that Hamas, not Israel, is responsible for civilian deaths. The incident highlights deep divisions within Israel over the conflict and concerns about the impact of internal criticism amid ongoing violence and rising antisemitism worldwide.