- US officials say Hamas will not be militarily eliminated
Israel has, according to senior U.S. officials, reached the military limit in its war against the Islamist Hamas ruling the Gaza Strip. The military has inflicted heavy damage on Hamas but will never be able to completely eliminate it, the "New York Times" reports, citing unnamed officials. The ongoing Israeli bombing has increased the danger to the civilian population in Gaza.
In many ways, Israel's military operation in the past ten months has caused more damage to the Hamas than U.S. officials had predicted at the beginning of the war in October last year. Israeli forces can now move freely in Gaza, Hamas is significantly weakened, and Israel has destroyed important supply routes from Egypt to Gaza.
However, one of Israel's main goals, the return of the remaining hostages, cannot be achieved militarily, the newspaper continues to report, citing experts from the U.S. and Israel.
"Israel has succeeded in weakening Hamas, killing some of its leaders, and largely reducing the threat that existed for Israel before October 7," the newspaper quoted the former head of the U.S. Central Command, General Joseph L. Votel. Hamas is now a weakened organization. The release of the hostages can only be achieved through negotiations.
The New York Times was the source that reported on General Joseph L. Votel's statement, highlighting Israel's success in weakening Hamas. Despite Israel's achievements, the newspaper stated that the return of the remaining hostages would require negotiations, not military action.
