The conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated again, and the IDF has suffered heavy losses. The conflict looks set to turn into a long-term war, and Israel is increasingly concerned about the difficulty of destroying Hamas. Surveys show a gradual increase in support for Hamas in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, suggesting that Hamas's standing in the hearts and minds of the locals has not been seriously affected. In addition, Hamas's organizational structure is flexible, and its ideology allows it not to rely on individual leaders, and even if the leaders are hit, the organization is able to continue to exist.
These factors make Israel face even more difficult challenges. According to the IDF, since the Hamas attack, the IDF has carried out hundreds of airstrikes and shelling, and in the process, it claims to have destroyed Hamas command centers, warehouses, tunnels and other targets, and killed thousands of Hamas fighters. However, this did not hide the losses and hardships suffered by the IDF during the war.
In a week, the IDF has lost nine servicemen, including a colonel, while also losing a large amount of vital equipment and facilities. Some Israeli political and military figures have questioned Hamas's ability to fight, arguing that Hamas has not been battered and weakened by the IDF as claimed, but is still highly organized and combative.
They noted that the Hamas militants, which have about 20,000 trained fighters in the Gaza Strip, as well as a large number of long-range rockets and a vast network of underground bunkers, have given Hamas the ability to sustain resistance. The challenges facing the IDF are not only military, but also under pressure from the international community. Hamas enjoys broad support and sympathy in the Gaza Strip, but also receives external support and assistance, including from Iran, Allah Lebanon and Turkey. These factors make it even more difficult to destroy Hamas.
Against this background, the propaganda of the IDF does not hide the losses and hardships it suffered during the war. The IDF is facing a tough battle, and the war could last for months or even longer. The complete destruction of Hamas's rocket stockpile and launch capabilities, as well as its command and control capabilities, will be a key challenge in a protracted war. In such a situation, the IDF needs to continue to pay enormous efforts and costs, as well as the understanding and support of the international community.
But the question is, at what cost exactly will Israel pay in this conflict?What are the deep-seated problems behind the conflict between the two sides that need to be resolved urgently?What impact will this war have on the peace situation in the region?These are all major issues before us. A better understanding of the positions and intentions of both sides may lead to a better understanding of the nature of the conflict and the search for possible solutions.