Watan-Former Israeli Deputy Chief of Staff, General Yair Golan, admitted to the failure of the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian resistance during the ground battles in the Gaza Strip.
In statements to the Hebrew newspaper Maariv, he mentioned that the problem with the ground operation (conducted by the Israeli army in Gaza) is that the political level does not clarify the war’s objectives.
Talking about crushing Hamas is not enough
He added that the statement about crushing the Hamas movement is not sufficient, considering that the question lies in what will happen afterward.
Yair Golan pointed out that for Israel to wage a war where it sacrifices what he referred to as its “best sons” without clear military objectives is shocking. He emphasized that the war began with a resounding failure for Israel, even if it were to kill the leader of the Hamas movement in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.
There is no escape from reaching an agreement with Hamas
He pointed out that the political leadership in Israel must tell the truth to its people about the delay in eliminating Hamas, affirming that there is no way other than reaching an agreement with Hamas, not with any other actor.
He highlighted that Hamas is the only party capable of releasing prisoners and detainees, adding, ‘The current approach of lying means that we will continue to live in a threatened country, and our citizens will not return to their homes on the border.
Hamas Achieved a Strategic Goal
Yair Golan highlighted that Hamas entered the war aware that the scenario of destroying the southern suburb is possible. The movement achieved a strategic goal when it told Israel, “I am the one managing the conflict.”
He affirmed that despite the destruction in Gaza, Israel appeared weak and could not defend itself without American assistance.
He explained that the Netanyahu government ignored that any political solution with the Arabs should be linked to security. He emphasized that a government prioritizing security would consider the Iranian threat greater than the Palestinian one.
Israeli Occupation Army’s Acknowledgments of its Losses
These statements came concurrently with the Israeli army’s acknowledgment of the death of eight soldiers and officers in the ongoing battles in Gaza, while presenting a new toll for the losses it has suffered since its invasion of the Strip in late October of last year.
The Israeli army stated that eight soldiers and officers were killed in the ongoing battles in the Gaza Strip, coinciding with intense clashes between the resistance and the occupation forces in Jabalia and Beit Lahia.
The occupation army mentioned that 485 soldiers and officers have been killed since the beginning of the war, including 158 since the start of the ground operation in Gaza.
Israeli Occupation Army’s Acknowledgments of its Losses
The Israeli occupation army admitted on Saturday evening to heavy losses in fierce battles with Palestinian resistance and ambushes set up against its soldiers in various locations in the Gaza Strip. It stated that five officers and soldiers were killed in battles in the southern and northern parts of the Strip.
The army acknowledged the injury of 44 soldiers in the past 24 hours, with 10 of them in serious condition. It mentioned that 189 officers and soldiers were seriously injured in ground operations in the sector, with 310 having moderate injuries, and 327 sustaining minor injuries.