'Hamas Cannot Be Defeated', Says IDF Chief Daniel Hagari; Netanyahu Responds (Ximage@AlQassamQudsBri)
After more than eight months of brutal and barbaric conduct of war on civilians of Gaza in the name of defeating Hamas, the resistance group, Israel army has finally reached the conclusion that ‘Hamas cannot be defeated’. Speaking to Channel 13 broadcaster, Israel Defense Force (IDF) chief Daniel Hagari said that Hamas is an ideology and an ideology can’t be defeated.
The statement is a stark contrast to what Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been preaching about since the beginning of the war in last October – war ends at complete destruction of Hamas. Hagari said anyone who is saying that Hamas can be defeated is misleading the public.
He said, “to say that we are going to make Hamas disappear is to throw sand in people’s eyes. If we don’t provide an alternative, in the end, we will have Hamas.”
Netanyahu’s office, fuming with anger, was fast in responding to Hagari’s remarks. In a statement released, it said, “the political and security cabinet headed by Prime Minister Netanyahu defined as one of the goals of the war the destruction of Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities”. It further added that the IDF is “committed to this”.
Read also: Netanyahu Calls The Brutal Rafah Attack A “Tragic Mistake”, EU Discusses Sanctions On Israel
Israeli political analyst, Akiva Eldar in a statement said that Hagari’s remarks has undermined Netanyahu’s ‘doctrine’ that Hamas could be defeated ‘once and for all’.
“It’s a kind of apocalyptic scenario that the army spokesman – who is reporting to the chief of staff – is just undermining Netanyahu’s doctrine, which is: We do have to put an end to the Hamas government once and for all in Gaza”, said Eldar.
He further added that, “What Hagari is saying is challenging Netanyahu and saying, actually … you are hallucinating”.
Netanyahu is in a sticky situation. He is widely opposed and criticised by his own people for his lack of strategy to conduct war in Gaza. The brutal means of war took lives of more than 37,000 Palestinian civilians, and several of IDF members. Over 10 Israeli soldiers committed suicide, and many suffer from mental illness like PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
On the other hand, Hamas is still putting up a strong fight. Though the group faced a significant blow, the political power of Gaza appears to have clear-cut strategies. Videos, which are alleged to be from the bodycam fixed to the militant group shows members taking down Israeli soldiers and tanks at zero distance. Their resilience appears to be stronger than what is seen on the surface.
Read also: Israel Unleashes Another Massacre Killing 274 Palestinians; 4 Israeli Hostages Rescued
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP) recently reported that Hamas is “preserving” their fighters. ISW and CTP in a joined report said that, “the use of prepared explosively rigged buildings and tunnels suggests that Hamas’ units in Rafah prepared to preserve their strength by avoiding direct engagements”.
The Israel-Hamas war started on October 7th, when Hamas, the political power in Gaza, launched an unprecedented attack on Tel Aviv. The attack was a result of the choke hold restriction Israel has been imposing on Gaza, and Palestinians in whole. The attack has resulted in the killing of more than 1000 Israelis. The group also captured around 250 Israelis as hostages.
