'Israel' has no post-invasion endgame for Gaza: Reuters

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Reuters
19 Oct 2023 17:26
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A report by Reuters shows that "Israel's" lack of an exit strategy for its impending invasion of Gaza might entrap it in a war of attrition.

Smoke billows after an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City, in the Gaza Strip (Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images)

A report by Reuters, based on the input of eight regional and Western officials with knowledge of the conflict and who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, explains that the Israeli occupation seems to be drawing itself into a war of attrition with its planned ground invasion of Gaza.

The IOF called up 360,000 reservists in preparation for the invasion, which Israeli official has said would be unprecedented in ferocity.

"Israel" has mobilized infantry for limited ground invasions in 2008-9 2012 and 2014. Described as "mowing the grass" by Israeli officials, the purpose of all the operations hitherto was to undermine the Resistance's infrastructure. However, the current planned invasion, which has been codenamed "Operation Swords of Iron," has the declared objective of "eliminating" Hamas.

#Gaza screams in pain.

Palestinians are suffering under the brutal Israeli aggression. More than 3785 #Palestinians were murdered by "Israel" in Gaza and thousands more were injured, 60% of whom are children and women.

"Israel" is targeting residential homes, schools, mosques,… pic.twitter.com/1gkwVpkNyn
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 19, 2023

Three regional officials familiar with discussions between the US and Middle Eastern leaders told Reuters that "Israel's" aim is to destroy Gaza's infrastructure, even at the cost of high civilian casualties, push the Gazans toward the Egyptian border, and go after Hamas by reducing their infrastructure to rubble.

According to a US official, the Biden administration is concerned that while the IOF may be able to inflict lasting damage on Hamas, they don't have a clear exit strategy.

During his visit to "Tel Aviv", Biden had implicitly warned the Israelis not to make the US mistake in its so-called "war on terror" i.e. to get drawn to swamps that will exhaust Israeli resources in the long run.

Two regional military experts told Reuters that Hamas has mobilized for an invasion, setting up anti-tank mines and booby-trapped explosive devices to ambush troops.

"Israel" has killed over 3785 #Palestinians in its ongoing aggression on the #Gaza Strip and wounded over 13,000 others.#GazaUnderAttack #GazaGenocide #Palestine #PalestineGenocide pic.twitter.com/dBs1Xg4uIx
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 19, 2023

The network of tunnels that the Resistance has developed over the years would allow for a large margin of maneuvering by Resistance fighters.

"It's an underground city of tunnels that make the Vietcong tunnels look like child's play," a regional source told Reuters. "They're not going to end Hamas with tanks and firepower."

More so, Washington officials are not optimistic that the IOF will be successful at "eliminating" Hamas, an American source told Reuters.

A more likely scenario, the source said, would be for Israeli forces to kill or capture as many Hamas members as they can, blow up tunnels and rocket workshops, and then after Israeli casualties mount, look for a way to declare victory and exit.

No comprehensive plan for the Gaza invasion

"Israel doesn't have an endgame for Gaza. Their strategy is to drop thousands of bombs, destroy everything, and go in, but then what? They have no exit strategy for the day after," said one regional security source.

"We are of course thinking and dealing with this, and this involves assessments and includes the National Security Council, the military, and others about the end situation," Israeli Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi told reporters on Tuesday.

"We don't know what this will be with certainty. But what we do know is what there will not be," he added.

Israeli security officials seem to be shortsightedly locked on "eliminating' Hamas and have relegated planning the exit strategy to a later time.

According to some regional sources, Washington aims to restore the Palestinian Authority in Gaza after it had lost it to Hamas back in 2007. However, it's doubtful that the PA would be able to govern Gaza after Hamas is driven out.

Risk of regional war

Beyond the Gaza front, more dangerous parties pose a threat "Israel" as skirmishes with Hezbollah have been picking up pace over the past days.

Additionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned of possible preemptive measures against "Israel" if it decides to go through with its invasion of Gaza. Last weekend, he said Iran would not watch from the sidelines if the US failed to restrain "Israel".

The Israeli aggression on the #Gaza Strip has so far left 4 hospitals and 14 primary care centers out of service.

It also led to the martyrdom of 44 medical personnel and the injury of 70 others. Moreover, the stock of medicines in all hospitals in the Strip is depleted, amid… pic.twitter.com/n9KbA71zIq
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 19, 2023

Hundreds of Palestinians have died in the West Bank since the start of the year in repeated confrontations with Israeli soldiers and settlers, and there is widespread concern that the violence might engulf the territory as nearby Gaza burns.

Furthermore, Egypt and regional Arab countries fear a replay of the 1948 Nakba and having to deal with the exodus of displaced Palestinians from Gaza.

"Whatever worst-case scenario you have, it will be worse," a regional source said about the potential for the conflict to spread beyond Gaza.