To: Les H who wrote (47963 ) 9/24/2025 1:29:23 PM From: Les H Read Replies (1) | Respond to With Hamas' Military Long Dismantled, Netanyahu Aims to Turn the Israeli Army Into a Political Pawn Officers say Hamas has long ceased functioning as a hierarchical force, yet Israel's ground offensive continues, leaving civilians trapped and destruction mounting If anyone still had delusions of a quick Israeli victory in Gaza during the first year, such notions have long since been disabused. In recent weeks, the military has been engaging in a new ground offensive to conquer Gaza City. But in contrast to the illusions that the government is pushing, most of the IDF General Staff and forward command have doubts about the likelihood of defeating Hamas. Consequently, they question the justness of the war at this stage. The military already dismantled Hamas as a military organization long ago. Some officers say February 2024, others May or the summer of 2024. It's the stage in which Hamas stopped functioning as a hierarchical, military body and turned to guerrilla tactics. Israel destroyed most of Hamas' military capabilities and killed the overwhelming majority of its senior commanders last year. The IDF's relative success, after its frightening failure on October 7, should have paved the way for a diplomatic deal to end the war. The government refrained from doing so, due to political pressures (Netanyahu's need to keep fighting to delay his trial and the annexation dreams of his far-right coalition partners). Since then, Gaza has produced what economists call diminishing returns. Military gains are no longer significant, and Hamas is adapting to its new situation. Palestinian civilians are stuck in the middle. Nearly half of the million people crowded into Gaza City have fled. The so-called safe zones awaiting them south of the city can't really supply true safety or tolerable living conditions. Dozens of Palestinian civilians are killed daily because of Israeli attacks. "In the end, a terrorist with an RPG and motivation will always be waiting for us in some shaft. As long as there is no other option, nothing new will develop in Gaza," a reserve officer who has served most of the war in Gaza said. "Hamas' command and control structure collapsed long ago. They have no real resources. They have readapted to guerilla warfare, using the tactic of attack and disappear. What we do now against it won't change the military picture. We've already been to all these places in Gaza – Zeitoun, Shujaiyeh, Sabra." He continued: "We'll continue working there using the crush and conquer method, but there's no reason to assume we'll get different results. Without ending the war, Hamas has no reason to give up the hostages, their main asset. And after we clear the area and destroy what's left, there will always be some explosives waiting to kill a logistics convoy, and the whole story will start anew." One of the war's prominent characteristics is the unprecedented destruction the military is leaving behind in Gaza. While there was some supervision from above in the early stages, that control was lost long ago. No one talks anymore about hitting Hamas' military assets but rather in scorched earth terms – destruction as punishment, meant to deter not only combatants but also civilians from returning to destroyed communities. In the background, the agendas and ideologies of commanders, including low-ranking officers, in the field are at play. Settlers in the West Bank are setting up more heavy machinery companies, whose people are recruited to the fighting in Gaza through irregular contracts. The clear goal is leaving behind as much destruction as possible. Haaretz
