The IDF will eliminate Hamas’s military capabilities over the course of the ongoing war in a way that will prevent a recurrence of the invasion from Gaza for another 50 years, a senior diplomatic source said Monday.
Yet despite being pressed several times, the source stridently avoided being pinned down about the endgame for the Gaza Strip, including multiple refusals to commit to permanently toppling Hamas as its ruler.
Pressed about declaring that toppling Hamas is the goal in advance of Israel’s presumed counter-invasion, which could set clear expectations and reduce global criticism, the source pushed back, saying global critics will always jump on Israel in the middle of a conflict.
At the same time, the source appeared more focused on fighting aggressively than on the consequences before the International Criminal Court, though that issue did still appear to be taken into account regarding future fighting.
Civilian lives vs. surprise advantage
One major change is that the “roof knocking” tactic (firing a loud but empty missile) the IDF has used to systematically evacuate civilians in Gaza in the past will be used less in this round of fighting since it degrades the advantage of surprise.
It also appeared that the IDF will strike Gaza without holding back too much to avoid hitting Israeli hostages who Hamas took.
In general, the source did not put much emphasis on negotiating for a return of the hostages now, with the clear focus being on prosecuting the war against Hamas.
Furthermore, the source said prior concerns from 2014 about potential losses of hundreds of troops would not hold the IDF back after Hamas’s much more severe crimes against Israel on Saturday.
Iran was constantly involved in pushing Hamas and Hezbollah to make problems for Israel and provided guidance, funding, and logistics for this, the source said, without flagging any specific order or plan from Iran regarding Saturday’s invasion.
“We are at war,” the senior diplomatic source said. “This is not just another round of conflict. This was worse than 9/11 in relative terms,” regarding Israel’s size and population.
“They are the same as ISIS… and we are not just fighting over what they did,” the source next said. “But we also need to fight for our future.”
Furthermore, the source said, “We need to clear the invaded area and close any entry points. What we have carried out against them has been large, and what we will be doing will be even larger. We will destroy any place where they are hiding. Many hundreds have already been killed,” with indications that the number of dead Hamas terrorists has crossed 1,000.
Israel would continue keeping Gaza cut off from all electricity, water, and other items, the source said, adding that it could receive minimal humanitarian needs from Egypt through their joint border.
According to the source, “We will reinforce all of the borders, with Lebanon, in the West Bank. We will also rally international support.”
In recent days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already spoken to US President Joe Biden twice, French President Emmanuel Macron twice, and the leaders of Germany, Italy, Canada, and others.
“The international support must continue – not just when we are victims, but also when we are victors,” the source said.
“We dialogued with the US, which sent a clear message to Iran and also to Hezbollah by mobilizing maritime vessels,” the source added.
Addressing Hezbollah, the source made it adamantly clear that Israel would try to avoid any accidental escalation into war on a second front. Nevertheless, “we are ready for anything,” and if Hezbollah pushes Israel, “they will receive a major war.”
Regarding the political situation, the source said, “We want an emergency government, but like in 1967, with no conditions,” including no co-equal branches of the government or alternate prime minister setups as Netanyahu and National Unity chairman Benny Gantz established in 2020, since this would simply lead to a government of a total stalemate.
In confronting the intelligence and operational failures that led to Israel being completely surprised by Hamas on Saturday, the source said the IDF was already studying the issue internally, and at a later date, when war was not imminent, there would be wider reviews of the issue.
The source denied that any warning had been given to Israel by Egypt and generally seemed less concerned about the long-term implications of the issue, framing it as more of a military matter.