How Netanyahu's Hamas policy came back to haunt him — and Israel
In the wake of Hamas's deadly rampage of October 7, some Israelis are remembering Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's previous attempts to "keep Hamas alive" as a counterweight to more moderate Palestinian groups.
![How Netanyahu's Hamas policy came back to haunt him — and Israel](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7010753.1698480026!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/israel-palestinians.jpg)
![Israelis take cover as a siren warns of incoming rockets fired from the Gaza Strip during the funeral of the Israeli man Sagiv Ben Svi, killed by Hamas militants while attending a music festival, at a cemetery in Holon, central Israel, on Oct. 26, 2023. More than 1,400 people were killed and over 200 taken captive in an multi-front attack by the militant group that rules Gaza on Oct. 7. People crouch in the street and cover their heads with their arms.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7010753.1698480026!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/israel-palestinians.jpg)
In the wake of Hamas's deadly rampage of October 7, some Israelis are remembering Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's previous attempts to "keep Hamas alive" as a counterweight to more moderate Palestinian groups.