Israel’s top army spokesman questioned the declared goal of destroying the Hamas group in Gaza, showing a public rift within the country’s political and military leadership, according to AP News.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that Israel would continue to fight Hamas until its military and governance capabilities in the Palestinian territory were eliminated. However, as the war enters its ninth month, frustration is growing and no clear end or post-war plan is in sight, according to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military spokesperson.
This business of destroying Hamas, making Hamas disappear — it’s simply throwing sand in the eyes of the public. Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a party. It’s rooted in the hearts of the people — whoever thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong.
Meanwhile, there are already open signs of dissatisfaction with the way the Netanyahu government is conducting the war. Months of internationally brokered truce talks, including a proposal put forward this month by President Joe Biden, have stalled.
Benny Gantz, a former military chief and centrist politician, left Netanyahu’s military cabinet earlier this month, citing frustration over the conduct of the war. Netanyahu, for his part, expressed dissatisfaction with the army’s decision to declare a “tactical pause” in the town of Rafah in southern Gaza to help deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the military conflict has so far claimed the lives of more than 37,100 Palestinians. Moreover, the war has largely cut off the flow of medicine, food, and other supplies to Palestinians who are suffering from widespread hunger.
Meanwhile, The United Nations stated on Wednesday that its aid workers were again unable to pick up humanitarian aid supplies at the Kerem Shalom border crossing “due to a lack of law and order.”
In another incident, 11 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Dr Saleh al-Hamas of the nearby European Hospital reported.
No clear path to ending war
Biden administration officials are increasingly doubtful that Israel and Hamas can reach a comprehensive cease-fire agreement within the current framework, according to four US officials familiar with the talks. Israel and Hamas generally agree on the terms of Phase 1, but they have no disagreement on how to formally end the war, Politico reports.
Hamas wants Israel to agree to a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. However, Israeli officials stated that they would not agree to a full withdrawal from the enclave until its forces eliminated Hamas completely. Meanwhile, the Palestinian group will not sign any part of the agreement until Israel agrees to its demands.
Neither side has shown signs of willingness to compromise, which concerns Biden’s officials that the fighting will continue for months to come.
I think this is going to go on until at least the end of 2024.
Since the beginning of the year, senior US officials have become increasingly sceptical about finding a way to end the war quickly. The goal was to get Israel and Hamas to at least agree to an initial six-week cease-fire. That could have allowed the release of dozens of hostages taken by the militant group in an attack on Israel on 7 October.
However, US officials have calculated that even if Hamas and Israel reach an initial short-term ceasefire agreement, there is a high probability that it will collapse. The Biden administration has spent the past several weeks trying to secure an agreement between Israel and Hamas. Senior officials have travelled to Israel and Doha trying to find a solution. Now they are publicly accusing Hamas of obstructing the path to peace.
No one is confident this deal is going to move forward in the way the administration had hoped. There are so many unknowns.
