In an interview, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi offered perspectives on the current hostilities between Israel and the Hamas militant group in Gaza.
According to a report by The Times of Isreal, Hanegbi asserted that determining the duration of the war remains elusive, with no clear timeline in sight, stating, "It may not even be possible to measure it 'in months.'"
Highlighting the absence of a specific deadline set by the United States for concluding the operation, Hanegbi stressed that the multifaceted military objectives, such as hostage return and Hamas destruction, contribute to the complexity of determining a precise timeframe.
He further noted the accuracy of the assessment that measuring the war's goals in weeks is challenging and expressed uncertainty about whether it can be quantified in months.
Hanegbi indicated that the fate of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar plays a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of the conflict.
Expressing that the elimination of Sinwar is part of the strategy, he theorized that this could prompt the succeeding leadership to consider leaving Gaza to avoid a similar fate. This, in turn, would achieve the dual goals of dismantling Hamas and ensuring the safe return of hostages.
Hanegbi reported that a minimum of 7,000 terrorists were killed in the war, but it's uncertain whether this count encompasses the casualties from the large-scale invasion on October 7, which resulted in at least 1,000 reported deaths within Israel.
Hanegbi offered strategic analysis, highlighting that the IDF is currently near crucial Hamas command centers located in Jabaliya and Shejaiya in northern Gaza.
Hanegbi recognized the high-risk nature of hostage rescue missions, given captors ready to act, underscoring the inherent dangers faced by IDF commandos. He asserted that Israel's decision to confront Hamas, albeit delayed by 17 years, indicates the realization that the consequences of not acting decisively would be significantly greater.
Comments