Bennett says Hamas has 27,000 fighters as IDF faces shortage of 20,000 combat soldiers

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Hamas is growing stronger in Gaza and now has 27,000 fighters, while the Israel Defense Forces is short about 20,000 combat soldiers.

“The IDF is screaming: ‘I need more soldiers. We need more soldiers,’” Bennett said. His figure for Hamas fighters could not be independently confirmed, but the IDF’s shortage of roughly 20,000 combat troops has previously been acknowledged in Israeli reporting.

Bennett warned that Israel was approaching what he called its last opportunity to address the military manpower crisis and sharply criticized exemptions from military service for the ultra-Orthodox community. He said a future government should establish a common state education system and adopt the principle: “Not Zionist? Not on my dime.”

He also accused the outgoing government of posing “a clear, immediate and tangible danger” to Israelis and warned that another October 7-style attack could occur if it is not replaced.

On Gaza policy, Bennett said Israel should rely more heavily on Egypt rather than Qatar, arguing that President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has his own interest in seeing Hamas disarmed.

Bennett has made military service and the ultra-Orthodox draft exemption central themes of his campaign ahead of Israel’s October 27 election. He has previously said the IDF’s combat-soldier shortage is costing lives and pledged to end state funding for people who refuse military or civilian service.