6/5/2024–|Last updated: 5/6/202403:24 PM (Mecca time)
In their discussions and analyzes on Israeli media channels, former Israeli political and security officials focused on the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, the possible military operation in Rafah, south of the Strip, and the return of detainees held by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza.
Regarding Rafah, Suleiman Maswad, political affairs correspondent for Kan 11, quoted a “senior political official” as saying, “The army will enter Rafah whether there is an exchange deal or not.”
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak warned against launching a military operation in Rafah, saying: “The Rafah operation does not mean that Israel is one step away from absolute victory, but rather it means that it is one step away from absolute failure.”
Speaking to Channel 12, Barak added: “The process of evacuating the population from Rafah will take a week, two, or three, and there will be fighting that may last months, and by the end of these months, the kidnapped will be in coffins, and the situation in Gaza will not change fundamentally.”
For his part, Amos Yadlin, former head of the Military Intelligence Division, believes that “victory must be redefined… Victory is the return of the kidnapped, it is the return to the evacuated towns, and the fact that we and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) will remain for a long time… and we can achieve the second goal of the war.” “At another opportunity.”
Dan Hael, former deputy chief of staff, said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was repeating: “Either the kidnapped ones or Rafah,” stressing that Israel is at a crossroads. “Either it chooses the kidnapped deal and a temporary ceasefire, ending the situation in the north, normalization with Saudi Arabia and support.” “or enter into Rafah and quarrel with the world.”
He added during a discussion on Channel 12 that Netanyahu risks being like the late Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, who was tried in The Hague on charges of genocide.
According to Nadav El, an expert in international affairs, Israel will not be able to operate in Rafah without the support of the Americans, highlighting that carrying out a military operation in Rafah, as happened in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip and in Gaza City, is not available to Israel because of the Americans.
As for Ofer Shelah, a former member of the Knesset and researcher in Israeli national security, Netanyahu is betting on the time factor for the survival of his government coalition, and that the prisoner exchange deal is not in his favor, calling on Israel – in his interview with Channel 12 – to “consecrate the regional alliance that will be a response to the axis.” The resistance is an ally of Iran.”