Heavy Defeat for Tel Aviv in Gaza; Hamas Regains Strength
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency, the British newspaper Financial Times analyzed recent Palestinian resistance ambushes against the Israeli army.It reported that when a Hamas ambush killed five Israeli soldiers and wounded 14 others in Gaza this month, Israeli public opinion was shocked not only by the number of casualties but also by where the operation took place.
The city of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza-located along Israel’s initial invasion route into Gaza after October 7, 2023-is now inside Israel’s military buffer zone. The city has been attacked by Israel four times.
Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, and his supporters insist that only military force can free the remaining 50 hostages held by Hamas and destroy Palestinian resistance. However, after 21 months, neither goal has been fully achieved. Most of Gaza lies in ruins, with nearly 60,000 Palestinians killed. Widespread anger against Israel is growing over civilian casualties.
Opponents accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war to politically preserve his coalition as the military remains stuck in a quagmire in Gaza. Michael Milshtein, a former Israeli military intelligence officer said: “this is a war without clear objectives or strategic demands-like walking through a swamp.”
The British newspaper adds that Israeli casualties have recently increased; as June, 35 Israeli soldiers have died in Gaza compared with just 11 soldiers during three months following a short ceasefire breach last March by Netanyahu. Milshtein remarked: ”Hamas still exists and remains active. The group still governs inside Gaza; no real alternative authority has emerged there-and none of Israel’s hostages captured since March have been returned alive.”
Polls show an overwhelming majority of Israelis support any agreement guaranteeing prisoner releases from Gaza-even if it requires ending what is already their longest conflict on record. According to Financial Times, deadlock over renewed six-week ceasefire talks in Qatar led Israel to launch an extensive ground assault on deir al-Balah city at central Gaza.
The Financial Times emphasizes that Hamas has successfully recruited thousands of new young fighters. According to Israeli and US intelligence assessments, Hamas continues exercising effective internal control over areas outside direct Israeli rule. The Israeli army conducts daily airstrikes purportedly targeting Hamas militants; though thes attacks frequently kill dozens of civilians each day.
Last week at Beit Hanoun, Eyal Zamir-the Chief of Staff for Israel’s Defence Forces-instructed troops that if no agreement is reached his orders are for intensified operations extending their scope as much as possible.
The paper notes growing rifts between Netanyahu’s cabinet and military leadership regarding next steps for Israel’s campaign: zamir and top IDF commanders reportedly support ceasefire talks aimed at returning at least half of remaining hostages from Gaza; though proponents favoring continued warfare argue eradication of Hamas requires further military action.
Netanyahu declared he will only end fighting once all prisoners are freed safely-Hamas disarmed-and threats emerging from Gaza neutralized.
Dissenters within Netanyahu’s cabinet like Milshtein warn that ”Gaza has become ‘the capital city for illusions'” regarding official narratives produced by Tel Aviv officials for domestic audiences.
