Yaakov Bardugo's claim that IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi supports the continuation of Hamas's rule in Gaza "is a serious lie and lacks any basis," the IDF said on Tuesday.
"The Chief of Staff has said himself countless times, also publicly, that Hamas's control of Gaza should not be allowed to continue," the IDF added. "At the same time, the government is the one who determines policy, and the IDF implements the directives as such. Other claims, as raised by the reporter in recent days, are complete lies and attempts to harm the IDF and the Chief of Staff who heads it, who leads the IDF in fighting against Hamas with great determination and with significant results."
Bardugo is a political commentator for Channel 14.
Bardugo later doubled down on his position, he reposted a clip on X captioned "Yaakov Bardugo in an attack against the IDF spokesman: 'Crazy message. I stand behind my stuff clearly. If the Chief of Staff declares against the end of the war and against Hamas remaining - I promise to apologize to the Chief of Staff. Do you know why it won't happen? Because the Chief of Staff won't do it"
יעקב ברדוגו במתקפה נגד דובר צה"ל: "הודעה מטורללת. אני עומד מאחורי הדברים שלי בצורה ברורה. אם הרמטכ"ל יצהיר נגד הפסקת המלחמה ונגד הישארות החמאס - אני מבטיח להתנצל בפני הרמטכ"ל. אתם יודעים מדוע זה לא יקרה? כי הרמטכ"ל לא יעשה את זה"#המהדורה_המרכזית@Litalsun @bardugojacob pic.twitter.com/uhWg4JpNn8
— עכשיו 14 (@Now14Israel) June 18, 2024
The career trials and tribulations of Yaakov Bardugo
Bardugo was previously terminated from his role at Army Radio for his support of, at the time, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, the Jerusalem Post reported in 2022.
In a similar accusation to the ones he faces now, Bardgugo was accused of spreading lies and propaganda.