Resistance in Gaza presence similar to pre-October 7: Israeli media
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Israeli media reports that top officials promising a decisive and complete victory against the Resistance in Gaza are "detached from reality".
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Al-Qassam Resistance fighters monitoring an Israeli occupation surveillance post adjacent to the Gaza border on July 19, 2023. (AFP)
Israeli media outlets reported on Saturday that the situation in the Gaza envelope "has returned to pre-October 7," affirming that Israeli officials' promises to "eliminate" the Resistance and achieve imminent victory are "completely detached from reality."
Israeli Channel 13 stated that Israeli officials "pledged to eliminate Hamas and assured the residents of the envelope that they could return to their homes, as it was safe, but last week proved that reality is far from the promises," referring to Resistance rocket launches from northern Gaza toward nearby settlements.
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"Rockets were launched [targeting] the envelope area throughout last week, where sirens sounded in Nir Am, Ashkelon, Sderot, Kfar Silver, Zikim, and Mefalsim," journalist Almog Boker said. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant have pledged to "continue the war until Hamas and all its elements are eliminated," he continued.
The rockets were launched from the northern Gaza Strip, "an area where Gazans are not supposed to be," Boker added, despite the fact that top Israeli officials "sold the public the idea that it [north Gaza] is under army control."
"This indicates another fact worth mentioning," which is that Palestinians in Gaza have returned to the North and that fighters from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad still maintain a presence in the area.
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Israeli army 'responding inadequately'
Resistance fighters are not only launching rockets, but also targeting Israeli forces on the ground," the journalist warned, noting that "a Hamas fighter opened fire yesterday at an army patrol, killing a reserve officer."
Boker believed that this is because "the fighters there understand well that the area has returned to the days before October 7 .. while the army is responding inadequately."
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported last week that, nearly 7 months after launching the war on the Strip, "Israel" has yet to bring back its captives, defeat the Resistance, reduce its influence, or effectively harm its capabilities, let alone "eliminate it", as top Israeli officials declared the elimination as one of the war's goals.
The outlet said that it is evident today that a handful of Israeli officials are claiming that war objectives in Gaza are being achieved, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing out as the main proponent of the "overwhelming decisive victory" slogan.
