IDF commander presented as Hitler online

Hostility towards Yehuda Fox, commander of the IDF Central Command, has been escalating in the past few weeks. A fake X (formerly Twitter) account shared a cropped photo of Fox last week, portrayed as Adolf Hitler, accompanied by swastikas and the Nazi flag. 

The user on X, named ELLA LEVI posted the manipulated photo of the commander, captioning it, "Yehuda Fox acts like a dictator, using oppressive measures to silence his critics,” according to a report by N12. The tweet has since been deleted. 

שיא בהסתה נגד מפקד פיקוד המרכז יהודה פוקס שמוצג כהיטלרההסתה נגד האלוף יהודה פוקס נמשכת • אחרי המתקפות של חברי כנסת - פוסט שעלה ברשתות החברתיות מציג את האלוף כהיטלר • עם שפם על פניו של פוקס, דגל המפלגה הנאצית וצלבי קרס, נכתב כי מפקד הפיקוד: ״רודן ודיקטטור״ pic.twitter.com/sY9y8qCNIW

— קומי ישראל (@kumiiisrael) September 10, 2023

Coalition lawmakers routinely criticize IDF general

Several coalition MKs have recently criticized Fox. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant criticized Likud MK Avichay Buaron at the beginning of August after the latter accused the senior IDF general of valuing Palestinians over Israelis.

The comments were made following a terrorist attack in Ma'aleh Adumim.

"Maj.-Gen. Yehuda Fox is a professional officer [who] dedicates his life to the defense of the people of Israel," Gallant said over X.

Halevi added, "Under his command, the commanders and soldiers work day and night to ensure the safety of all residents of the West Bank. Any statement that impugns his considerations and his commitment to the security of Israel's citizens has no merit and deserves all condemnation."

MK Limor Son Har Melech (Otzma Yehudit) criticized the general late after a terror attack in Huwara claimed two Israeli lives. Fox “does not know how to distinguish between Jews and terrorists,” she told Radio 104.5 in an emotional interview on August 20. He can’t discern “between Jews who are rooted to the land and who are not ready to give it up to terrorists and murderers,” she said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office responded on Sunday evening, stating that the prime minister had demanded that an investigation be launched into the post. The Prime Minister's Office added that the prime minister condemns the incitement and gives full backing to IDF commanders.

Israel Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman stated "I knew Yehuda Fox in his position as commander of the Gaza Division, he is a brave officer who has proven himself many times, both on a personal level and as a respected commander who carries his soldiers behind him."

"The overstepping of the reins by the commander of the Central Command is a direct result of wild incitement by ministers and MKs in the coalition against the members of the security establishment, the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the Mossad," said Liberman. "The ignoring or belated response of the prime minister to those defamatory words, are tantamount to backing and encouraging those instigators who crossed all the red lines."