Military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi enumerated the reasons behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s desire to stop the Rafah military operation, denying what was reported by Israeli reports about the destruction of 60% of the capabilities of the Al-Qassam Brigades – the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) – in the border city with Egypt. .
Al-Duwairi explained – during his analysis of the military scene in Gaza – that the reasons are the existence of a rift in positions between the political and military wings in Israel, in addition to American reservations, in addition to his intention to deliver a speech before the US Congress on July 24 next, and the public disagreement with the administration of the US President. Joe Biden about the delay in sending shipments of weapons and ammunition to Israel.
Added to all this is the escalation on the northern front with Lebanese Hezbollah, and the possibility that it could turn into a comprehensive and open war, according to Al-Duwairi.
Netanyahu had said – in an interview with Israeli Channel 14 – that the phase of intense fighting in Gaza was about to end, and he expressed his willingness to conclude an exchange deal that would return some prisoners, but he stressed his “unwillingness to stop the war before eliminating Hamas.”
In turn, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted sources as saying that the army had ended most of the ground operations in Rafah, which were determined by the political leadership, noting that the army practically controls the Philadelphia axis separating the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
The sources indicated – according to the newspaper – that the political leadership set the goal of striking 60% of Hamas’ strength in Rafah and completing the mission in the following months.
The secret of 60%
Regarding the reason for determining this percentage, Al-Duwairi said that any combat unit whose combat capacity drops to 60% “goes out of service, becomes weak, and is easily destroyed,” before he added that reality does not confirm this at all, as all resistance factions are still fighting and capable. On managing the defensive battle.
The military expert cited Israeli reports that confirmed that Hamas and its military wing had reorganized their forces in Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip, and also in its north, noting that recruitment and training operations are ongoing around the clock.
He added that the process of military reconstruction and replacing martyred and injured fighters with new elements is underway, stressing at the same time that the damage to the Al-Qassam Brigades is not at the level that the Israeli side is talking about.
Regarding the reasons for the lack of new ambushes in Rafah, Al-Duwairi attributed this to the withdrawal of the occupation forces from deep in the built-up areas after the recent ambushes, including the “Tal Al-Sultan” and “Al-Shaboura” ambushes.