Hamas’ (and Iran’s) depravity – when our enemies know no limits: Should We? Do we need to act morally when dealing with an immoral enemy?

My name is noam white. I very much appreciated the latest shiur/podcast. I wanted to comments though. I am a reservist in the IDF finishing up my fourth round of reserves so far during the war. When I’m not in reserves I am a Rebbe in Yeshivat Lev Hatorah and teach Jewish military ethics to our students in our hesder track. Rav Brody made two comments that I think need to be corrected or nuanced. With regard to amalek, while I agree with the view of Rav Tzvi Yehudah’s rav shaul Yisraeli there is the view of rav soloveitchik in the foot notes of Kol dodi dofek where he quotes his father as saying that the obligation of a defensive war stems from the obligation to eradicate amalek. Aside from that there is some machloket with regard to whether or not amalek was wiped out completely. For example the gra holds that that גרממיא שבאדום in mesechet megila refers to Germany and rav zonenfeld held that way as well.

He also made a comment that most of the combat soldiers in the IDF agree with the hostage deal. I’m unaware of any poll that testifies to that in addition to that my experience in reserves tells me the exact opposite. The majority of the soldiers I have spoken to disagree with the deal and many of those who agree only agree because they feel that the government isn’t trying to achieve total victory and if they aren’t trying to achieve total victory then the only other way to get the hostages back is via a deal.