Falcon powers – The American newspaper, The New York Times, confirmed that Israeli occupation has failed to achieve its main objectives in the war on Gaza, which were the destruction of Hamas and the return of its captives from the Strip, more than six months after its outbreak.
Meanwhile, the suffering of Palestinians has led to “eroding support even among Israel’s allies,” according to the newspaper. This raises questions about what has been achieved and when and how the fighting, which is escalating tensions globally, can end.
The newspaper quoted current and former American officials affirming that “Israel has not been able to destroy Hamas, and it cannot do so.”
American officials doubt the assumptions that suggest the intense Israeli operations could continue for another two months, let alone years. Washington believes that Israel should declare victory over Hamas and shift to a different type of fight, namely targeting senior leaders of the movement.
Officials told the newspaper that Israel has not been able to eliminate Hamas and cannot do so. However, they have made the possibility of a repeat of the events of October 7, 2023, very low.
Likewise, American officials and analysts “speculate” that Hamas will remain a force in Gaza even after the war ends, according to The New York Times, as the top leadership of the movement remains in place within the Strip.
According to the report, these leaders are present in an extensive network of tunnels and underground operation centers, and they are the “decision-makers in prisoner exchange negotiations.”
Regarding the tunnels, current and former American officials confirmed that they would allow Hamas to stay and reorganize itself once the fighting ceases.
The newspaper also quoted American and Israeli officials saying that the tunnel system extends hundreds of kilometers, reaching depths of up to 15 floors underground, housing larger complexes than those used for command centers and shelters.
Israeli officials also pointed out that Hamas and other Palestinian resistance factions still possess numerous forces both above and below the ground.
In this context, an official in Israeli military intelligence confirmed that between 4,000 and 5,000 Palestinian fighters have held their ground in northern Gaza, as reported by The New York Times.
The newspaper also addressed the invasion of Rafah in the southern part of the Strip. It quoted American officials as saying that “Israel did not have a plan to evacuate civilians from the city,” which will increase the number of casualties in Gaza.
The newspaper also considered that “the only way to compel Israel to halt the Rafah operation is through a deal to release prisoners.”
