After the Israeli-Israeli ceasefire expired on Friday, rockets fired by Hamas from Gaza into Israel were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems over Tel Aviv. Israel plans to launch a campaign against Hamas for a year or more, with the most intensive phase of the ground offensive continuing until early 2024, the Financial Times quoted sources familiar with Israeli movements.
The message says that Israel is determined to destroy Hamas. According to the Israeli battle plan, the Israeli army will penetrate deep into southern Gaza, with the goal of killing three Hamas leaders, namely the supreme leader Yahya Sinwar, the commander of the Hamas Kasan brigade Mohammed Deif, and his deputy Marwan Issa.
At the same time, the Israeli army will ensure a "decisive" military victory by striking Hamas's 24 combat battalions and underground tunnel network, as well as destroying Hamas's ability to govern Gaza.
Fighting has resumed in Gaza, and tensions have resumed. At the Jordan Field Hospital in Gaza, paramedics care for a premature baby in an incubator. A senior Israeli military official said that at least 10 of Hamas's 24 combat battalions were "extremely heavy", and more than 50 mid-level commanders and about 5,000 militants were killed.
The source noted that Israel's overall strategy for Gaza is flexible and will be adjusted according to factors such as the progress of military operations, international pressure and the opportunity to release Israeli hostages. "It's going to be a long-term battle ......," he saidWe are currently less than halfway to achieving our goal. "It will take a few more months for the Israeli army to fight intensively on the ground, and it will continue until early next year. After that, Israel will reduce the intensity of its strikes and enter a phase of "transition and stabilization", which may last until the end of 2024.
The phase of "transition and stabilization" is known to refer to the preparation for the establishment of a new post-war order in Gaza in the absence of Hamas. According to several people familiar with the matter, Israel** has so far refused to discuss the issue of the Palestinian Authority's regaining control of Gaza, in other words, to rule it out. "No one, not even the United States, can talk to them (Israel) about this," the source said. ”
On the other hand, Reuters reported that Egypt and regional sources revealed that Israel has informed Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey that it wants to open a buffer zone on the Gaza side of the border after the war in case Hamas or other militants attack Israel again in the future.
"Israel wants to establish a buffer zone between Gaza and Israel from north to south to prevent Hamas or other militants from infiltrating or attacking Israel," a regional security ** said. ”
Falk, a foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, called the buffer zone part of the demilitarization process for Gaza.
Regarding the buffer zone, a UAE** said the UAE would support any future post-war arrangements agreed by the parties to achieve stability and establish a Palestinian state.
According to information from the Egyptian security services, Israel had previously proposed to Egypt and Qatar the establishment of a buffer zone in northern Gaza and to submit it to international supervision, but several Arab countries opposed the proposal, mainly because of disputes over the location of the buffer zone.
There is a general consensus among Arab countries that it is impossible for Israel to completely eliminate Hamas, because Hamas is not an armed force that can be easily destroyed.