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Gaza war conduct could lead to 'Third Temple' destruction: IOF general

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Mar 2024 18:51
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An Israeli general warns through Channel 12 that Netanyahu's declared objective to "eliminate Hamas" is an "empty slogan with absolutely no basis at all."

Israeli occupation soldiers stand outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, occupied Palestine, November 22, 2023 (AP)

A Brigadier General in the Israeli occupation army warned that the way the war on Gaza is being handled now, if not stopped, "will lead to the destruction of the Third Temple."

Talking to Channel 12, Itzhak Brik said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's publicly declared objective to "eliminate Hamas" is an "empty slogan with absolutely no basis whatsoever."

He added that as a result of pursuing this slogan, "Israel is now heading toward losing [its Gaza captives], losing the world, losing the economy, and also losing strategic security."

"Netanyahu has seen, over the years, that the basic issue in Israel's security is the Iranian nuclear [program], to the extent that he has not been preoccupied with traditional matters, and spent billions of dollars on exercises to attack Iran's nuclear [program]."

He pointed out that "the political and military levels do not have a strategic vision, while the Chief of Staff of the army, Hertzl Halevi, holds symbolic responsibility."

The senior Israeli military official believed that "the army should have entered Rafah earlier," as "entering now will end Israel's relationship with the world."

According to him, "The remaining 20% of the army forces in Khan Younis must also be withdrawn, as continuing the fighting there is futile and will not lead to any change," noting that "[Resistance] fighters are returning to places the army claims to have finished with."

In this context, the general emphasized the need to "move toward a ceasefire and discuss the prisoners instead."

"Israel may find itself in a regional war without intending to," he said, warning that the entity "cannot confront a multi-theater war."

Not ready

Brik has also been pessimistic regarding "Israel's" posture on the northern front with Lebanon and has repeatedly warned against Netanyahu dragging "Israel" into a war that could lead to severe destruction in the entity.

In an interview for Israeli broadcaster Kan 11 last month, the Israeli general affirmed that Hezbollah represents a greater danger than Hamas.

When asked about war on the northern front, Brik said it is "unrealistic". According to him, those who wish to wage war against Hezbollah forget that it is a much greater danger than Hamas.

"They possess 150,000 rockets, thousands of rockets will be fired daily toward settlements, water and power stations, airports, and much more. The entire region will be involved as well - the war would transcend to a regional one, and the West Bank will explode."

Finally, he warned that, in the case of a war with Hezbollah, "Israel" would witness internal uproars from different Resistance factions, and Yemen and Iran would join the frontlines, emphasizing that the occupation is not ready for anything of the sort.