The second stage of the ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip began today (Friday) at the end of a week of lull and the return of 110 prisoners (some even earlier). Hamas did not show any serious intention to complete the release of women in its possession, and despite American pressure, decided to proceed to the next stage: a ground military operation in the Gaza Strip that would lead to Hamas' surrender and a better offer to release the hostages.
The two goals, according to political sources, are intertwined. The way to release the remaining abductees goes directly through the collapse of the murderous organization, which in the past week seemed stronger and more organized than ever.
Back to square one, almost
Despite the work in the northern Gaza Strip, the military command structure of the Hamas terrorist organization still functions in a way that prevents the achievement of its goal: the destruction of the organization. In the coming weeks (although negotiations are expected to continue under American pressure and under Qatari and Egyptian envelope), the IDF will be required to undertake a series of complementary actions at the end of which the organization will surrender: isolate the organization's rulers from the other terrorists on the ground, damage Hamas' command and control centers, collapse the Internet in the Gaza Strip in order to cut off communication between all levels, and disable computer systems.
All this will eventually lead to the same goal that Israel set on the bloody Saturday night when Hamas celebrated a temporary victory with the blood of 1,200 of its citizens: the collapse of the organization. The road there can take many months, but the IDF can achieve it more easily and in a shorter time without the imaginary moral shackles that the United States is trying to impose on our fighters, something it has never imposed on itself under similar circumstances.
In surgical work, as Blinken tried to demand this week, fighting will stall, the risk to fighters' lives will rise and the goal will not be achieved. For any surgical operation will not create the chaos required to topple a regime.
More than empty promises
Netanyahu, who boasted this week of his ability to generate the political support needed for an IDF victory, will need more than empty promises. As much as our friend in the White House presses, he will have to stand up and provide his back to the fighters on the ground who have been seeking for weeks to win, to promise never again.
And there is another benefit to this – a harsh and focused military operation in the Gaza Strip that will lead to the surrender of the organization – will not only create the necessary deterrence against our enemies in the interior and north of the country, but will also create the ground for a better deal for the return of the hostages.
Only in this way, in which the absolute collapse of the organization is achieved, will it be possible to discuss the eventual expulsion of its operatives from the Gaza Strip. When Sinwar waves a white flag (if he is not eliminated first), the hostages will be released, the Gaza Strip will be liberated from the murderous organization, and Israeli citizens will be released from the horror images of the October 7th.
Qatar is trying to lead to the final stage of expelling the organization's leaders (saving their lives) and rebuilding the Gaza Strip (reorganization) now that Israel has the upper hand. This is a bad proposal and Netanyahu should not even discuss it. Until the conditions are ripe, until Hamas' surrender becomes an indisputable event.
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