Eisenkot says Hamas forces renewed, foresees years of conflict
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"There is no [trade-off] between releasing prisoners in exchange for ending the war," the former Israeli army chief said.
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Minister in the Israeli War Council Gadi Eisenkot pictured in "Ramat Gan", Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022 (AP)
Israeli war cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot said on Monday that Hamas "renewed its forces" and that the fighting in the Gaza Strip is expected to "continue for years", Israeli news website Ynet reported.
What needs to be done now "is to reach the end of fighting in Rafah and at the same time move forward along the path of a hostage deal, in which we will cease fire for 42 days or double that," Eisenkot was quoted as saying during a session in the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee.
"There is no [trade-off] between releasing prisoners in exchange for ending the war," he further said, noting that negotiating a deal involving captives is crucial from a strategic standpoint.
"As we stopped in November for a short break, we stopped for 42 days. And even if we need more than that, it does not mean we will end the fighting," he added.
Read more: Two Egyptian soldiers martyred in clashes with Israelis: Reports
Eisenkot's remarks come at a critical juncture as the Israeli public advocates for an exchange deal without a clear post-war strategy after 8 months of fighting, during which the Israeli army did not attain any declared war objectives. These challenges are compounded by collapsed negotiations due to Israeli obstinacy and its military operation in Rafah.
On Sunday, the former head of Mossad Danny Yatom said that "time is running out" for the Israeli captives in Gaza, that "Israel" will fail to achieve any of its war objectives, and that Gaza will remain the way it is.
Even if the army "remained in Gaza for several more months, fighting over and under its lands, they would still not be able to kill every Hamas fighter or even the majority of them," he added.
The army would also fail to destroy the Resistance's infrastructure in Gaza or even its majority, he further said.
Eisenkot's remarks, on the other hand, signify a clear and explicit challenge, particularly in light of the regime's refusal to comply with orders of the International Court of Justice. The ICJ effectively ordered "Israel" to cease all its operations in Rafah.
Read more: Germany says ICJ ruling against Rafah offensive must be implemented
The Palestinian resistance for its part affirmed that it will not engage in negotiations until a permanent ceasefire is reached and the Israeli forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues across the entire Strip, where Israeli forces suffered significant losses, as reported by Israeli sources.
