Military spokesperson from Israel: "Total annihilation of Hamas is not achievable"
Following the 7th of October, Israel's military objectives in the Gaza Strip were twofold: freeing hostages and eradicating Hamas. Yet, almost nine months later, Army spokesperson Hagari voiced skepticism regarding the practicality of these plans.
Israel's military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, took exception to the Israeli government's assurance that the radical Islamic Palestinian party Hamas would be wholly annihilated. Hagari told Channel 13, "Hamas is a concept, an ideology deeply engrained in people's hearts. Anyone who thinks we can erase Hamas is misguided." He added, "Promising that we'll vanquish Hamas is nothing more than deceit."
Israel, according to Hagari, needed to consider the question of what would replace Hamas in the Gaza Strip: "If we don't provide an alternative, we'll end up with Hamas," the Israeli army spokesperson said.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is determined to bring the Gaza War to a complete Hamas defeat, rejected Hagari's statements wholeheartedly. The statement read, "The political cabinet and the security cabinet have vowed to demolish the military and government capabilities of Hamas as one of the war's objectives." The army, they insisted, remains "committed" to this objective. The army later clarified in a Telegram statement that Hagari's remarks referred to the "ideology" of Hamas.
Victory over Hamas still eludes Israel
Netanyahu has yet to propose a post-war administration and rebuilding plan for the Gaza Strip. About a month ago, "Politico" reported, citing US intelligence sources, that around a third of the active Hamas fighters before October 7 were killed. Simultaneously, Hamas had successfully managed to recruit thousands of new fighters during the war. Over two-thirds of the tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip remained unscathed.
The Israeli government has no intention of relinquishing security control over the Gaza Strip, a prerequisite for Palestinian rule. Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners, whose political survival hinges on him, are pursuing their own objectives and supporting Israeli settlement development in the Gaza Strip.
Recently, there have been growing military complaints about a lack of political strategy for the post-war period. Recently resigned General Benny Gantz had left the war cabinet because the government had failed to draft a plan for post-war order in the Gaza Strip.
Hagari further warned in the interview that all hostages in the Gaza Strip could not be freed through military operations. For months, efforts have been underway to negotiate a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and coax Hamas into releasing Israeli hostages through indirect negotiations. The US government's plan to achieve both objectives gradually has not been accepted by Hamas. Israel's government has yet to comment on this plan.
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In response to Hagari's skepticism, Benjamin Netanyahu's office reaffirmed their commitment to eliminating Hamas's military and government capabilities as a war objective. Despite the high number of Hamas fighters killed during the conflict and their successful recruitment of new ones, a post-war administration and rebuilding plan for the Gaza Strip have not been proposed by Netanyahu. The Israeli military, influenced by Hagari's warnings, has expressed concern about the lack of a strategic approach following the Israel war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
