"A Sane Country Does Not Kill Children as a Hobby": Former IDF Deputy Chief Yair Golan

Tel Aviv: Yair Golan, former deputy chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and current chairman of the Democrats party (a merger of Labor and Meretz), has ignited a political firestorm following his blunt remarks accusing the Israeli government of enabling atrocities in Gaza. In an interview with Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, Golan warned that Israel is on the path to becoming a pariah state akin to apartheid-era South Africa if it does not return to “acting like a sane country.” He stated, “A sane country does not fight civilians, does not kill children as a hobby, and does not aim to expel populations.”
Golan directed sharp criticism at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition, which he described as “filled with vengeful types with no morals and no ability to run a country in a time of crisis.” He warned that the current government’s actions are endangering the future of the Israeli state. Following the backlash, Golan clarified in a televised address that his criticism was aimed squarely at the government and not the military. “I said this morning that we are a sane country that does not kill children. When ministers celebrate the death and starvation of children, we must speak out,” he said. “My comments were directed solely at the most failed government in Israel’s history — not at the IDF. The IDF is my home and my heart.”
He further declared that a government advocating for the abandonment of hostages, starvation of children, and even discussing the use of an atomic bomb on Gaza does not reflect Jewish or Zionist values, but instead echoes rhetoric used by Hamas. He expressed deep concern that the government is transforming a once “justified and necessary war” into a campaign lacking national or security purpose. According to Golan, the ongoing operation in Gaza is not aimed at releasing hostages, as a comprehensive deal could have secured their return long ago, nor is it a genuine effort to topple Hamas, since alternative leadership could have been cultivated with regional support.
Despite the controversy, Golan stood his ground, saying he would not be intimidated by “the poison machine, the bullying, or the attempts to silence truth.” He asserted that anyone who truly values the IDF must speak out against a government that is harming it. The remarks sparked outrage across both the coalition and the mainstream opposition. Prime Minister Netanyahu denounced Golan’s statement as “wild incitement” and “blood libel,” saying, “The Israeli army is the most moral army in the world.” He also referenced a 2016 speech in which Golan, then still in uniform, warned of parallels between rising nationalism in Israel and pre-Holocaust Europe.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir went further, calling Golan “a terrorist” and accusing him of sabotaging the war effort. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Golan should be ostracised from public life. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich accused him of handing Israel’s enemies a weapon and said his comments crossed red lines. Even opposition leaders distanced themselves. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid called Israeli soldiers “heroes” and said any accusation that they kill babies is a “gift to our enemies.” National Unity party leader Benny Gantz called on Golan to retract his “outrageous, false, and dangerous” remarks, while Avigdor Liberman of Israel Beytenu described the claims as harmful to Israel’s security.
The only political support for Golan’s remarks came from Hadash-Ta’al lawmakers. MK Ayman Odeh noted the hypocrisy of those outraged by Golan’s words while remaining silent on the mass killing of civilians in Gaza. “It’s not the unimaginable killing of 20,000 children, the siege, or the starvation that shocked the opposition — it was Golan’s words,” Odeh said. MK Ofer Cassif commented that Golan’s remarks were “better late than never.” MK Aida Touma-Sliman welcomed the comments and highlighted recent statements by Smotrich advocating for the total destruction of Gaza, which she said confirms that the war is no longer about Hamas but about the destruction of the Palestinian people. She called on the international community to impose a ceasefire, stating that humanitarian aid alone is not enough.
Former Likud MK and ex- Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, once an IDF chief himself, has in recent months also taken a harsh tone against the Netanyahu government, accusing it of committing ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip has reportedly killed 53,486 Palestinian civilians — the majority women and children — and injured 121,398 others. Golan’s comments have sparked fierce debate about the direction of Israeli policy and its moral standing on the global stage.