'Israel' hasn't come close to 'destroying Hamas': US official to CBS
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An American official says that "Israel's" lack of a post-Gaza war plan makes the current strategy "a recipe for continuous war."
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A picture posted by the Military Media of al-Qassam Brigades showing its Resistance fighters carrying out operations against Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
"Israel" hasn't come close to achieving its goal of eliminating Hamas from the Gaza Strip, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing a US official.
"The Israelis haven't come close to achieving their objective of destroying Hamas," the official indicated, especially as hundreds of Palestinian fighters continue fighting and miles of tunnels remain intact and unexplored.
Meanwhile, the Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya al-Sinwar, is still at large.
The American official considered that "Israel's" lack of a post-Gaza war plan makes the current strategy "a recipe for continuous war."
Still, Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on "the destruction of Hamas' military and governing capabilities" as part of "Israel's" conditions for ending the war on Gaza.
The US official's remarks echo those of the spokesperson of the Israeli military, Daniel Hagari, who acknowledged that the goal of "eradicating Hamas" is unattainable.
"This business of destroying Hamas, making Hamas disappear — it’s simply throwing sand in the eyes of the public," Hagari told the Israeli Channel 13.
He stressed that "Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a party. It’s rooted in the hearts of the people — anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong."
The spokesperson warned that if the Israeli government "doesn’t find an alternative — [Hamas] will remain" in Gaza.
This is apparent, as military sources told the Israeli Channel 12 in mid-June that Hamas continues to engage in war within the Gaza Strip, and is still capable of inflicting heavy losses on Israeli soldiers.
The sources mentioned that the Israeli army is struggling to eliminate Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, and may end the military operation without achieving its objectives.
Similarly, Ohad Hemo, a Palestinian affairs commentator for the Israeli Channel 12, said that Hamas has successfully rebuilt its presence in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that Israeli expectations regarding the invasion of Rafah and the ground operation there are misleading the public.
Read more: Eisenkot says 'Netanyahu harms war objectives' and 'Hamas is an idea'
