Hamas capabilities similar to pre-Oct. 7: IOF General

By Al Mayadeen
24 Aug 2024 20:38
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Israeli Reserve Major General Yitzhak Brik warns that martyred Hamas resistance fighters have been swiftly compensated by new recruits.

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Resistance fighters from al-Qassam Brigades display their combat weapons in Maghazi camp July 19, 2023 (AFP)

Israeli Reserve Major General Yitzhak Brik criticized on Saturday the Israeli Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, stating that he "should be consigned to the dustbin of history."

Brik's remarks came after Halevi appointment of Shlomi Bender as the head of Military Intelligence (Aman).

He accused the staff chief of appointing his friends to protect himself, asserting that both Bender and Halevi have failed, particularly in the context of having "neither offensive nor defensive" plans for Gaza.

"[Bender's appointment] reflects the [bad] level we have reached," Brik's said, accusing Halevi of "not taking responsibility, deceiving the public, and continuing unethical practices to strengthen his team," which he described as part of the worst failure in the entity's history.

The retired general recounted his earlier meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting a stark contrast between Netanyahu's private conversations and his public statements. Brik noted that while the Prime Minister would agree with him during their discussions, he would later make contradictory remarks in public when facing threats.

Brik further mentioned that Netanyahu admitted there was no clear solution to the Resistance tunnels in Gaza, which are a significant security concern. He suggested that although Netanyahu is capable of making more effective decisions, his primary focus is on maintaining the stability of his government.

Brik emphasized that Netanyahu’s personal political considerations take precedence over addressing strategic military challenges.

On the issue of the prisoner exchange deal, Brik argued that Israel should initiate a ceasefire and release the hostages, believing that Hezbollah would also cease its activities as it has indicated so far. He urged Netanyahu to agree to this path to buy time to rebuild the army to a strength sufficient to deliver a decisive blow to Hezbollah and overcome it.

Brik added that Hamas' strength is now "very close to what it was before the war," suggesting that the actual number of Hamas members killed by Israel is much lower than officially reported and that these fighters have been replaced by new recruits aged 18 to 19.

Regarding the prisoner exchange deal, Brik argued that "Israel" should proactively "initiate a ceasefire and release the Palestinian detainees," believing that such an action would likely lead Hezbollah to halt its operations as well - as repeatedly declared by the Resistance party.

He urged Netanyahu to consider this approach as a strategic pause, allowing "Israel" to rebuild its military to a level of strength capable of delivering a "decisive blow to Hezbollah and ensuring [the group's] defeat."

Hamas' military capabilities are now "very close to what they were before the war," Brik said, indicating that the actual number of Hamas fighters killed by "Israel" is significantly lower than officially reported. He noted that the martyred resistance fighters have been swiftly compensated by new recruits, many of whom are young fighters between the ages of 18 and 19.

Brik had already warned on Friday that "Israel" could collapse within a year if the war of attrition against Hamas and Hezbollah continues.

In an article published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the major general stated that Security Minister Yoav Gallant seems to be starting to realize the truth, "If a regional war erupts due to the failure to reach an agreement on Gaza, Israel will be in imminent danger."

"I assume Gallant now realizes that the war has lost its purpose. We are sinking into the Gaza quagmire, losing our soldiers there with no chance of achieving the primary goal of the war, which is to topple Hamas."