Israel Warns: Conflicts in Gaza could persist for a year, increasing risks of escalation into regional war
The comments from high-ranking defense officials came during the visit of the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, with the aim of mitigating tensions.
Debris from buildings attacked by Israeli aircraft in the Jabaliya refugee camp AP PHOTO/ABED KHALED
Israeli defense officials and former senior intelligence officials have stated that they predict that clashes in Gaza will continue for at least a year. This raises the prospect of greater civilian casualties, a worsening humanitarian crisis, and a serious ongoing threat to regional stability. During a briefing, the Israel Defense Forces spokesman (IDF), Admiral Daniel Hagari, highlighted that the central and southern areas of Gaza, currently the focus of military operations, are "densely populated and saturated with terrorist elements", including an "underground network of tunnel complexes".
It will take three months to complete the cleansing of the area, and fighting will continue throughout 2024," Hagari said. He predicted scattered clashes in northern Gaza, with occasional rocket launches toward Israel, highlighting that militants from Hamas are currently "without structure and without commanders". Major General Amos Yadlin, former head of military intelligence and close to senior officials, compared the campaign to that led by a multinational coalition against the Islamic State in 2017, which lasted nine months. However, he highlighted that the situation in Gaza was much more challenging.
“It will take a year to dismantle Hamas. It's not the six-day war [of 1967]. The timeline is long… [IS strongholds] Mosul and Raqqa were not fortified underground… and the coalition was made up of 85 countries, he said.”
Yadlin also drew an analogy between Israel's current offensive and the one carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the West Bank in 2002, in response to a series of suicide attacks carried out by Palestinian militant groups.
International Community
You international observers and aid agencies expressed concern about the instability regional, calling for the intervention of international organizations to facilitate dialogue and promote a peaceful solution. They also described the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.There are widespread concerns that clashes along Israel's northern border between its military forces and Hezbollah could escalate. turn into an all-out war, potentially dragging the entire region into a wider conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war will not cease until the objectives of "annihilating" Hamas, freeing Israeli hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses threats to Israel's security are achieved.
“I say this to our enemies as well as our friends. This is our responsibility and this is our commitment”, said the Prime Minister of Israel to his cabinet this Sunday (07).
Situation in the Region
Israel's military operation in Gaza has already resulted in the loss of more than 22,400 lives, with more than two-thirds of them being women and children, as reported by the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the region. Thousands more are estimated to be trapped under the rubble, with tens of thousands injured. An offensive was launched in response to Hamas sending thousands of militants to southern Israel, where they killed approximately 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and kidnapped around 240 others. Israel has blamed civilian casualties in Gaza on Hamas, accusing the group of using residents as "human shields", and claims to have eliminated 8,000 "terrorists".
An airstrike near the southern city of Rafah resulted in the tragic deaths of two journalists this Sunday. Among the victims was Hamza Dahdouh, the eldest son of Wael Dahdouh, renowned chief correspondent for news channelAl Jazeera in Gaza, as reported by the Arabic channel and local medical authorities. The broadcaster broadcast touching images of Dahdouh, visibly shaken, crying and holding his son's hand before walking away in a daze.
Conflicts in Gaza have also resulted in an increase in violence in the occupied West Bank. Last Sunday, Palestinian authorities reported that nine people were killed, including seven Palestinians, during an Israeli airstrike on the northern city of Jenin. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), "six terrorists were neutralized when an aircraft struck an individual who was launching explosive devices at troops, during an operation in the Jenin refugee camp."
During an operation in the refugee camp, an Israeli officer also lost his life when a vehicle was hit by a homemade bomb, as reported by police. In another incident, an Israeli civilian was fatally shot, according to army reports. Until now, 139 hostages, including civilians and military, remain detained in Gaza, although it is suspected that some lost their lives during the fighting. On Saturday, thousands of people participated in protests in Tel Aviv, demanding that the Israeli government prioritize the release of the hostages.
Future of Gaza
Netanyahu is about to face a challenging meeting this week with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a week-long trip to the Middle East. Washington's top diplomat is expected to pressure Israel to step up its efforts to protect civilians in Gaza, allow greater humanitarian aid into the territory and present more detailed proposals for governance after the end of the Israeli military offensive.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suggested last week that unspecified Palestinian entities, possibly local public officials or community leaders, would take over administration of the territory. Gallant also indicated a more precise approach to targeting Hamas fighters and their leaders, aiming to reduce civilian casualties.
Yadlin, on the other hand, stated that the southern command of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in charge of Gaza, has begun planning buffer areas within the territory. These areas would be extensively mined to prevent any repeat of the October 7 attack. Such a move would likely generate controversy.
