Former Israeli officials and officers have asserted that a victory over the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in the Gaza war is no longer achievable, and that Israel has no choice but to accept a prisoner swap deal set by Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza.
Channel 12 relayed remarks from reserve General Yitzhak Brick, who said that despite the destruction of 1,100 tunnel openings, there are thousands more tunnels and hundreds of kilometers remaining. Given that this dilemma is unresolved, victory over Hamas cannot be attained.
Responding to the program host’s suggestion that controlling the borders and the Philadelphia Corridor could lead to victory, Brick stated, “We cannot win the war… we need to face the truth, say it, and stop the self-deceptive narratives. In my opinion, it is very difficult to undermine Hamas today, and it’s easier just to recover the kidnapped.”
Meanwhile, Channel “KAN 11” quoted Tamir Pardo, the former head of the Mossad, affirming that Israel’s only option is to agree to a prisoner swap deal with terms and timings set by Sinwar. He added, “If this war ends with 136 Ron Arads (referring to a pilot missing for 36 years) or with 136 coffins, Israel will – for the first time since its establishment – lose the war.”
Pardo emphasized that Israel must address the terrible act of abandoning its citizens and betraying them, saying that “Sinwar is far from feeling any pressure, and we are very far from decisively solving the ground battle… If the government and its head decide to give up on the kidnapped, let them say it openly to the public.”
Sinking into the Mud
Elior Levy, the Palestinian Affairs Editor for KAN 11, likened the current situation in the Gaza Strip to “sinking into the mud” rather than positioning within it, comparing it to the American entanglement in Iraqi mud, suggesting the start of a war of attrition in Gaza.
Amirav Spiersky, a sister of a captive killed in Gaza, accused the government of lying to them and forsaking their loved ones, alluding to specific government officials who insist on “fighting… only fighting.”
Israeli media have also reported escalating protests by the families of prisoners in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence. One demonstrator outside Netanyahu’s house in Caesarea said, “In every city you turn to, Benjamin, we will be there… You should tremble at this moment, and tranquillizers won’t help you.”
A relative of one of the Israeli captives expressed a shift in their pleas, “From liberating our relatives to demanding the saving of their lives. We are calling for an international conference with the participation of Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Israel to settle the situation and reach a resolution.”
