IOF paying 'unbearable' price, sinking deeper in Gaza quagmire

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
12 Jan 2025 14:25
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Israel Hayom's military correspondent says the rising number of Israeli military fatalities and casualties in Gaza is becoming increasingly difficult to handle.

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Israeli military vehicles move inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern occupied Palestine, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 (AP)

Israeli media have criticized the occupation's policy of constant incursions and withdrawals within the Gaza Strip instead of occupying and maintaining control over its territories, noting that Hamas is exploiting this approach to set "deadly traps".

Following the recent incident in Gaza, which resulted in the killing of four Israeli soldiers and the injury of others, the military analyst for Israeli Channel 14 indicated that Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi's infiltration strategy in the Palestinian enclave has failed.

He stressed that as long as Halevi fails to understand that the only way to fight in Gaza is "by occupying and holding territory, rather than repeatedly entering and exiting, this situation will not change."

"Hamas is taking advantage of our methods to plant death traps, and this is the outcome," he added.

Similarly, Israel Hayom's military correspondent noted that the rising number of Israeli military fatalities and casualties in Gaza is becoming increasingly difficult to handle.

She described Saturday's incident in Beit Hanoun, where four soldiers from the Nahal Brigade were killed, as "extremely difficult".

She highlighted that 10 soldiers were killed in the past week alone, 50 in the past three months, and 400 since the beginning of the ground operation in Gaza.

On Saturday, the Israeli military spokesperson confirmed the death of four soldiers and the injury of 30 others in Gaza.

Israeli media reported that 30 wounded soldiers were evacuated during the day, including 11 in critical or serious condition.

IOF paying heavy price, sinking deeper into Gaza quagmire

In a related context, Israeli media reported on Sunday that the Israeli military is "paying an unbearable price" in northern Gaza.

They described the double ambush executed by the Palestinian Resistance against Israeli troops in Beit Hanoun as "painful".

Avi Ashkenazi, the northern and military affairs correspondent for Maariv, suggested that the Israeli military is tactically failing in its handling of northern Gaza by deploying fewer shells and airstrikes, bombing buildings, streets, and neighborhoods, and then mobilizing troops.

Ashkenazi added that Hamas has prepared numerous explosive surprises on the battlefield and has a significant number of fighters armed with anti-tank missiles who continue to target Israeli forces in northern Gaza.

He urged the Israeli military to conduct heavier, "ruthless" bombing of northern Gaza and target all buildings there.

Strategically, Ashkenazi argued that "Israel" has nothing to gain in northern, southern, or central Gaza, calling for quickly concluding a deal to retrieve the 98 Israeli captives and ending the war on the strip.

He warned that the Israeli military is sinking deeper into the Gaza quagmire each day and paying a bloody toll, cautioning against voices in "Israel" calling for the continuation of the war in Gaza.