The debate is still raging in the Israeli media regarding the strategy of the war on the Gaza Strip and the transition to the next stage, with divided opinions as extremist government officials insist on continuing it until the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is eliminated, while other experts oppose this.
Israeli Minister of Education Yoav Kisch says, “What is happening is not a military campaign, but rather a long and painful war in which we unfortunately pay heavy prices every day,” stressing that it is “an existential war for Israel.”
In turn, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, “Discussing the issue of the day after the war is within the framework that they are talking about, meaning ending the war and moving to the next day… I think we are far from ending the war with victory.”
He added, “For me, merely discussing this matter shows a weakness in determination, clarity, and going all the way toward annihilating Hamas.”
As for Adi Karmi, a former senior employee in the Shin Bet internal security service, he stressed the need to establish an appropriate mechanism that would be decisive to end the war on Gaza, pointing out that the Gaza Strip is an example for the entire Middle East, “which will force us to change the way we fight in other regions.”
He continued by saying, “I do not want to use the term resolution or victory, because the term victory after October 7 is completely inappropriate for the event…but an end point must be reached in which we have obtained the head of (the leader of the Hamas movement in Gaza) Yahya Sinwar, or an agreement.” To get them out of the sector, although I think they will not agree to that.”
For his part, Arab affairs analyst for the Israeli Channel 12, Ohed Himo, reviewed press reports that he said were important regarding what he called “Hamas’s understanding of reality.”
He added, “Sinwar and the others are not broadcasting that they are living in a crisis. Hamas refuses to propose a deal that includes giving up power in Gaza on the one hand and on the other hand stipulates ending the war,” before continuing by saying: “This means that Hamas and Sinwar believe that they will overcome the war while it controls… Gaza”.
In turn, the former head of the operations department in the Israeli army, General Yisrael Ziv, believes that Israel “did not succeed in achieving important strategic achievements, neither at the level of the kidnapped (prisoners) nor at the level of destroying Hamas, and without these two achievements, Israel will not be able to withdraw back.”
He continued, saying, “Israel must change its strategy. Embarking on an additional tunnel war will not bring about the desired results, and that is in favor of Hamas. We are bleeding, and there is international criticism.”
For his part, former Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horovitch highlighted the division that was tearing apart Israeli society before the attack of last October 7, and said that it was “damned matters like a judicial coup.”
He added, “If there were a responsible government in Israel, it would say: Enough, enough of this reeling. We are living in a war that must be won. We have kidnapped (prisoners) and people evacuated from their homes, and all of that must be addressed. It is enough to send the people into hysteria.” .
