Israel is learning the lesson so many other countries have learned the last few decades: saying you’re going to wipe out guerrillas is much easier than actually doing it. From The Cradle News Desk at thecradle.co:
Following the temporary truce, Israeli media ran multiple reports stating the Israeli army and Prime Minister Netanyahu have failed to achieve their objectives in Gaza
Fighters with the military wing of Hamas marched in the Gaza Strip. (Photo credit: MOHAMMED SABER/EPA/SHUTTERSTOCK)
Following the implementation of a four-day truce in Gaza, the Israeli media is flush with reports that Hamas remains strong after 49 days of fighting, and that the Israeli military is losing the war.
Following the 7 October Hamas attack on Israeli settlements surrounding the Gaza strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to eliminate Hamas.
But despite Israel’s horrific bombing campaign and ground operation in Gaza that has killed some 15,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children, the Israeli media is reporting that Hamas remains in control of the conflict.
Following the release of the first batch of Israelis held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Hebrew language Channel 12 said that on 25 November, “Whoever is in a hurry to mourn Hamas should look at this day to understand that this is not the reality. After 49 days of fighting, Hamas has proven that it is still strong, and that it still controls the Gaza Strip.”
The channel noted that Hamas successfully completed the exchange of captives, including one held by another Palestinian faction, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, despite claims it had lost control over its fighters and cells. “After all this, the scene of Hamas kneeling is still a long way off,” the channel added.
The Israeli channel’s military affairs correspondent, Nir Dvory, said that the Hamas movement “has not collapsed yet,” noting that the Israeli army “failed to liquidate the movement’s officials” whom it declared targets of its operations.
