Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Gantz urges war focus on Hezbollah, dismisses IOF Gaza failures

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 9 Sep 2024 09:27
4 Min Read

Former Israeli war cabinet member, Benny Gantz, says "Israel" should shift its attention to Hezbollah and Lebanon, calling the northern threat more pressing than Gaza.

Listen
  • x
  • Benny Gantz, a former Israeli occupation military chief, leaves a meeting at the Capitol in Washington, United States, on March 4, 2024. (AP)
    Benny Gantz, a former Israeli occupation military chief, leaves a meeting at the Capitol in Washington, United States, on March 4, 2024. (AP)

"We are late" and must shift the focus of "Israel" toward Hezbollah and Lebanon, former Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz said on Sunday.

"We have enough forces to deal with Gaza and we should concentrate on what is going on in the north," Gantz underscored during a speech at the Middle East Forum in Washington, US.

Stressing that the "real" threat for "Israel" has become the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, Gantz expanded saying, "The time of the North has come, and actually I think we are late on this."

it is important to note that Gantz is not considered a right-wing politician in the occupation. Rather, he is dubbed centrist; the Israeli occupation's ideology is uniform on matters of occupying Palestinian and Arab lands along the left-right spectrum of political affiliation.

Gantz brushes off IOF failure in Gaza claims military superiority

In his Washington speech he also alleged, "In Gaza, we [Israeli occupation] have crossed a decisive point of the campaign," stressing "We can conduct anything we want in Gaza. We should seek to have a deal to get out our hostages but if we cannot in the coming time, a few days or few weeks, or whatever it is, we should go up north."

The Israeli politician also emphasized that "Israel" made an error, as much of the northern occupied region was forced to flee after Hezbollah launched a Resistance support front in defense of the Palestinian people and Resistance in the Gaza Strip a day after Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

Gantz further threatened that "Israel" is "capable of hitting the state of Lebanon if needed" claiming that "The story of Hamas is old news," and that "the story of Iran and its proxies all around the area and what they are trying to do is the real issue."

Related News

Cholera devastates Darfur region amid conflict, US aid cuts

US uses tariffs to strongarm India on Russia ties

In his statement, Gantz made multiple references to the Axis of Resistance and the multiple support fronts launched by Arab and Islamic Resistance movements in the region in defense of occupied Palestine.

Read more: 'Israel' knows nothing about Hamas' tunnels: Released captive

'It is not Hamas that is collapsing, it is Israel'

In an article titled "It is not Hamas that is collapsing, but Israel" published in Haaretz, retired Israeli Brigadier General Yitzhak Brik offered a critical assessment of the ongoing battles in the Gaza Strip. He underscored the significant and escalating losses "Israel" is facing, arguing that the war is exerting a far heavier toll on "Israel" itself than on Hamas.

He argued that soldiers are exhausted and are losing their skills for lack of training; especially since many are leaving their courses before completing them.

"Some argue that withdrawing army forces from Gaza after signing a hostage deal with Hamas would be the same as being defeated and surrendering... This claim is grounded in a fundamental misunderstanding of what is taking place in the Gaza Strip. It is fueled by clichés spread by the political and military echelons to justify their actions and gain public support and legitimacy to continue a failed war... it is those very same people declaring that a cessation of hostilities means our defeat and surrender who are bringing the military closer to collapse and the state to its downfall," he added.

He pointed out the need to concentrate occupation forces in other sectors, namely in the north and the West Bank due to the ongoing escalations, occupation forces will have to withdraw from Gaza  because there are "not enough forces to fight on several fronts at the same time."

"In other words, the day will come when the IDF [IOF] will no longer be able to remain in the Gaza Strip because Hamas will be in full control of it – both in the underground tunnel city that stretches hundreds of kilometers and above ground," Brik explained. 

He added, "If we stop raiding because the military is weak and because we have no other choice, or if we move our forces to other areas, our enemies will declare with fanfare that the Israeli military has thrown in the towel, left Gaza and surrendered."

That said, Brik suggested that by preempting matters and agreeing to a deal to return the captives and prisoners, the battles in Gaza must end.

Read more: Ex-Israeli PM Ehud Barak says war with Hezbollah 'strategic mistake'

  • United States
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Hezbollah
  • Lebanon
  • Benny Gantz
  • Hamas
  • Palestinian resistance
  • Lebanese resistance
  • Islamic resistance in Lebanon
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS