Nitzan Alon, a former key figure in hostage negotiations, asserts that the current Israel-Hamas war could have concluded at least a year ago. He claims that viable, comprehensive deals to secure the release of more hostages were repeatedly rejected by the Israeli cabinet. Alon alleges these rejections were motivated by a pursuit of “total victory,” a goal he describes as a “falsehood.” He implies that this insistence on total victory ultimately cost lives, suggesting more captives could have returned home alive under different circumstances. The comments directly dispute claims made by far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich and highlight ongoing internal disagreements regarding the handling of the hostage crisis and the war’s objectives. This revelation raises serious questions about the strategic decisions made during the conflict and their impact on the fate of those still held captive.