It is impossible to separate the various developments in the Israel-Hezbollah-Hamas war from the kidnapping deal.
At this stage of the war, Israel is registering success in fighting in the south of the Gaza Strip and especially in Khan Yunis, its various neighborhoods, and Hamas has a clear interest in stopping Israel.
Assuming that the operational leadership of the organization is closed and tightened more and more due to the activities of the IDF, Israel has no reason to rush into the negotiations for the release of the abductees, as it seems at the moment.
Philadelphia axis, photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS
On the contrary, in terms of the military consideration in the aspect of the entire campaign in Gaza, at this stage a move is required that will be an exploitation of success - and this, of course, is the Philadelphia axis.
A clear lesson from the past: a strategic piece of territory that Israel controlled until 2005, paid here and there a painful price for holding the border axis between Gaza and Egypt - to reoccupy it now means taking a political and operational risk.
Some argue that not occupying the Philadelphia axis immediately at the beginning of the ground maneuver was a mistake.
The benefit of occupying this border axis is known.
The issue came up again and again for discussion in the media as well.
Through the Philadelphia axis flowed, from Egyptian territory into the territory of the Gaza Strip, the IML that fueled Hamas's military capability, although an argument has also been heard that the vast majority of the IML used by the organization is produced within Gaza itself.
Action for complete victory
In any case, it is clear that the Russian anti-tank missiles of all types arrived by underground smuggling from Egypt, through tunnels or other ways that crossed the Philadelphia axis. There is no doubt that in order to close the door on Hamas, to prevent its re-intensification after the Gaza Strip moves into the reconstruction phase, it is necessary take control of the axis.
The political concern, including for agreements with the Egyptians, stems from the fact that this is a strip of territory where the IDF operates right on the Egyptian border. This raises the possibility of carrying out the necessary blockade at a certain distance from the Egyptian border, which will require treatment of certain neighborhoods in Rafah.
Egyptian President al-Sisi, photo: Reuters
From an operational point of view, the action in the Philadelphia axis is needed to achieve a complete victory over Hamas.
Such an action will increase the pressure on both Hamas and Egypt to come up with solutions acceptable to Israel regarding the abductees.
What is proposed, according to the publications at this point, seems shameful and completely unacceptable;
There is no reason to end a highly successful ground campaign in a phased deal that will last months while blackmailing the Israeli public, and in the end releasing thousands of terrorists.
The drag of the abductee deal over such a long period of time may imply that Hezbollah and the Iranians fear a situation in which Israel closes the abductee case and leaves for a powerful treatment of Lebanon-Hezbollah.
Action in the Philadelphia axis can bring positive results from any angle you look at it.
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