Senior Zionist official We have no choice but to negotiate with Hamas
According to webangah News Agency, Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported, citing Israeli security officials, that the Israeli army is entering a new phase of war in Gaza while acknowledging its inability to achieve some objectives.
The report stated that some Israeli military commanders doubt the effectiveness of defeating hamas given the heavy costs of maintaining military control over Gaza.
Israeli security officials conceded that their army cannot sustain operations in Gaza as it faces attacks causing increasing casualties. The military appears to be presenting political leaders with two choices: securing prisoner returns or pursuing full military occupation of Gaza.
yedioth Ahronoth quoted a senior Israeli security official saying: “If we want prisoners returned alive from Gaza, we have no choice but to negotiate with Hamas and reach a ceasefire. Israel must choose between occupying Gaza and prisoners dying, or making a deal with Hamas to end the war.”
The official acknowledged: “The planned operation in Gaza lacks any concrete programme for prisoner recovery and consists only of general statements. For months we’ve tried retrieving prisoners through military pressure without success.”
