According to the Financial Times on December 1, several people familiar with the matter revealed that Israel is planning to launch a campaign against Hamas for at least a year, and the most intensive phase of the ground offensive will continue until early 2024.
The multi-phase strategy is envisioned as Israeli forces stationed in the northern Gaza Strip are about to penetrate deep into the southern part of the besieged Palestinian enclave, the report said. The goal also includes killing three senior Hamas leaders – Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Dave and Marwan Issa – while securing a "decisive" military victory over the group's 24 battalions and network of underground tunnels, as well as destroying its "ability to govern in Gaza."
A person familiar with Israel's war plans said: "It will be a very long war ......We are currently less than halfway to achieving our goal. ”
Israel's overall strategy for Gaza is flexible, with a timeline determined by a number of factors, including progress in operations on the ground, international pressure and the opportunity to release Israeli hostages, according to people familiar with the matter.
As Israel and Hamas resumed fighting, a fragile week-long ceasefire broke down on 1 December, breaking the hostage-for-prisoner ceasefire between the two sides. Israel has said it will return to fighting to "eliminate Hamas."
People familiar with war readiness estimate that the new high-intensity ground operation could last for a few more months until early next year, "not just a few weeks," the report said. After that, there will be a "transition and stabilization" phase of lower military intensity, which may last until the end of 2024, while the location of the Israeli ground forces at this stage remains unclear.
An Israeli** said that, unlike previous Israeli military operations and wars, there will not be a clear finish line this time, and that "the referee will not blow the whistle to say that the game is over".
According to the report, the ground operation launched by Israel has occupied much of the northern Gaza Strip. Much of the area is in ruins, with more than 1 million** people left their homes. According to health ** in Hamas-controlled areas, Gaza has 150,000 people died.
A senior Israeli military officer said at least 10 of Hamas's 24 battalions had been "hit hard."
Another person familiar with Israel's war plans said the military still believes the operation in the northern Gaza Strip has not yet been completed. "Gaza City is not over fighting and has not been completely conquered. It's probably 40 percent done," the person said, "and it could take another two weeks to a month for the entire north." ”
The Israeli ground offensive in the southern Gaza Strip is expected to begin at the same time, and the area has so far been the subject of only sporadic air strikes. Israel** said that most of Hamas's leadership, most of its fighters and rockets, and most of the remaining Israeli hostages are currently in the south. (Compiled by Feng Kang).