Three months on, Israel is entering a new phase of war. Is it still trying to ‘destroy’ Hamas?

[CharlieH]

 

Three months ago, speaking to citizens rocked by a horrific day of attacks by Hamas, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a promise.

“The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas’s capabilities,” Netanyahu said. “We will destroy them.”

Now, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is shifting to a new phase of its war on Hamas in Gaza – and there are signs its objectives are changing too.

 

 

“The record is not very friendly to military campaigns seeking to eradicate political military movement that are deeply rooted,” Bilal Y. Saab, an associate fellow in the Middle East and North Africa at Chatham House, told CNN.

“IDF leadership understands very well that the most they can do is severely degrade the military capabilities of Hamas,” Saab said.

Israel has seen some successes in that regard; its forces claim to have killed thousands of Hamas fighters, including some high-ranking members, and have dismantled some parts of the group’s vast tunnel network under the enclave.

 

But challenges remain and an endgame is far from sight. Few countries at war set deadlines. Israeli officials have warned of a lengthy war that could stretch through the entirety of 2024 and beyond.

 

It will unfold in front of an international community that is increasingly aghast at the extraordinary humanitarian crisis and spiraling civilian deaths in Gaza.

And as international pressure increases, so too could domestic unease towards Netanyahu – an embattled prime minister eager to point to tangible victories.

“There is a race against time,” said Saab, outlining the key questions facing Israel’s leadership. “At what price is this tactical success going to come, and how much time do the Israelis have to achieve that tactical success without suffering from more significant international outrage?”

A ‘new combat approach’

The destruction of Hamas – the goal that Netanyahu touted on October 7 – was lofty, elusive and, according to many analysts, impossible.

“This kind of mission cannot be completed – we’ve seen it fail over the years many times,” Saab said.

Hamas’ influence extends far beyond Gaza, meaning a total defeat of the group is at least highly ambitious for Israel, if it can be achieved at all.

In a speech marking the anniversary of the attacks, Netanyahu reiterated his goals for the conflict: “To eliminate Hamas, return our hostages and ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel.”

But it remains unclear whether IDF leadership places eliminating Hamas atop its priorities. IDF intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva left out the destruction of Hamas when listing military goals in a speech on Thursday, Israeli media noted.

And also on Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant unveiled plans for the next phase of the war in Gaza, emphasizing a new combat approach in the north and a sustained focus on targeting Hamas leaders suspected to be present in the enclave’s southern territory.

 

FULL STORY

 

[Morch]

Pretty much everything included in this article was already discussed, mentioned, debated etc. on these topics long ago. And there were similar articles saying the same things posted as well. Not sure what's the added value here.

[thaibeachlovers]

If even CNN is saying that, it indicates to me that the US is now realising that it's not going to bode well for them to unconditionally support what the israelis are doing in Gaza.

9,000 dead children from American bombs isn't a good look in an election campaign.

[Morch]

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If even CNN is saying that, it indicates to me that the US is now realising that it's not going to bode well for them to unconditionally support what the israelis are doing in Gaza.

9,000 dead children from American bombs isn't a good look in an election campaign.

 

@thaibeachlovers

 

Another nothing post.

 

What is CNN saying that's new? How do you mean 'even'?

Everything in this article was aired long ago.