General McKenzie: IOF success against Hamas extremely limited

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: CBS
6 Feb 2024 00:08
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The former head of US Central Command, General Frank McKenzie says "Israel" needs a vision for the day after stressing that the most viable solution is a two-state solution and occupation in Gaza is the least desired of all.

General Frank McKenzie, then-Commander of US Central Command, appearing on screen from MacDill Air Force Base, in Tampa, Fla., speaks about Afghanistan during a virtual briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Monday, Aug. 30, 2021 (AP)

The former head of US Central Command, General Frank McKenzie described "Israel's" success in achieving its objectives in Gaza so far as "very limited."

McKenzie told CBS that "they set themselves a goal of removing the political echelon, and the military leadership echelon of- of Hamas, when they went in," adding "They have not been successful to date at doing either."

Moreover, McKenzie noted that there is great importance in having a clear vision for the end state when starting a military campaign and suggests that a two-state solution, with the involvement of Arab nations, is a preferable outcome for Gaza, emphasizing the undesirability of continued Israeli occupation.

Israeli invading forces burning Gaza homes to make Strip inhabitable

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that the Israeli military deliberately burned hundreds of homes in the Gaza Strip, along with all their belongings, with officers from the Israeli occupation forces confirming that house burning has become a "common tactic" to destroy residences and buildings.

According to the newspaper, officers involved in leading the Israeli war on Gaza stated that the house burnings were carried out on orders issued by field commanders.

Three officers commanding the ground offensive confirmed that the practice had become standard procedure during their operations, and in some cases, soldiers burned houses where they were based while conducting their operations.

In one instance, a unit within the Israeli military was about to conclude its operations in a combat zone when one of the unit's leaders instructed the soldiers, "Take your belongings out of the house and prepare it for burning."

The report also pointed out that soldiers shared accounts of home burnings, and in one case, before departing from a house, they left a message for their colleagues who would come after them, stating, "We didn't burn the house until you can enjoy it; when you leave, you know what to do."

Israeli top officials have repeatedly publicly declared plans to establish settlements in Gaza after forcibly expelling all its residents.

Israeli N12 broadcaster revealed that "Israel" has demolished about 1,100 to establish a buffer zone inside Gaza.

The Financial Times reported last week that the Israeli forces are working to create a buffer zone inside Gaza and demolish buildings on the Strip's borders to "keep this area completely clean of any [resistance fighters] or infrastructure, rocket launchers, mortars . . . and to give us the freedom of operation in that space," a person familiar with the matter told the newspaper.