Israel’s army chief of staff Eyal Zamir has recommended Brigadier General Barak Hiram for the influential role of military secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite Hiram’s controversial record of unauthorized destruction in Gaza.
Hiram, who commanded the Gaza Division, was previously reprimanded in 2024 for ordering the demolition of Al-Israa University in Gaza City without senior approval—a key educational institution reduced to rubble, leaving hundreds of Palestinian students without access to higher learning.
The recommendation, reported by Ynet on May 7, 2026, positions Hiram as a top candidate to replace Roman Gofman, amid Netanyahu’s inner circle reshuffles.
Critics see this as emblematic of Israel’s pattern of rewarding commanders linked to disproportionate actions, including Hiram’s involvement in deadly strikes and even tank fire on an Israeli home during the October 7 attacks. The move raises alarms over accountability, as Gaza’s academic infrastructure—once home to 12 universities—has been systematically targeted, with Al-Israa among the last obliterated, fueling accusations of cultural erasure.
Palestinian educators and rights groups decry the promotion as further evidence of impunity, noting that such decisions prioritize military loyalty over justice for war crimes allegations at the International Criminal Court. With Gaza’s education system in tatters and over 280 schools damaged, the elevation of Hiram underscores a troubling disregard for the devastation inflicted on Palestinian civilian life.
