ِALBAWABA - The protracted conflict with Hamas in Gaza is causing increasing dissatisfaction and perplexity within Israeli political and security circles, which is reflected in Israeli media sources.
Senior experts and former officials are publicly acknowledging that Israel has not completely understood the character of its adversary, despite Hamas's continued tenacity, more than 16 months into the battle.
Israel is progressively increasing its operations, but there are no indications that Hamas is waning, according to Alon Ben David, a military affairs expert for Channel 13. Israeli intelligence apparently sees no change in the group's commitment, despite statements made by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Lior Akerman, a former Shin Bet official, said that Gallant's remarks could have been made for political reasons and cautioned that Hamas's philosophy makes surrender improbable.
Roni Shaked, a Palestinian affairs specialist, emphasized the internal uncertainty during a program on Kan 11 by emphasizing that the conflict has not succeeded in forcing Hamas into discussions or returning captives. He said, "We still don't know who we're fighting."
Amos Yadlin, the former head of military intelligence, bemoaned the absence of a clear post-war political plan and underlined the need of a long-term strategy. "We're just circling without a clear objective," he said.
Dana Weiss of Channel 12 posed urgent questions about the war's ultimate objective, including if it is to eradicate Hamas, establish military control, or achieve another objective. She cautioned, "There is no vision for what comes next."
Nimrod Sheffer, a former IDF planner, warned that Israel might end up starting again, although with more casualties. Former military spokesman Ronen Manelis, however, said that persistent pressure hasn't changed Hamas' position.
Reporter Menachem Horowitz went on to say that the Houthis' threats and Hamas' missile launches are still ongoing, forcing millions of Israelis into bunkers and casting doubt on Israel's capacity to destroy Hamas's capabilities.
