Israeli Analyst: Claims of “Complete Victory” in Gaza War Are Baseless
Amos Harel critiques Netanyahu’s claims and highlights Hamas’ resilience.
Watan-The Israeli military analyst, Amos Harel, stated on Friday that the boasting about a so-called “complete victory” in the war on Gaza, promoted by supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, lacks any real foundation.
Harel, who is a military affairs analyst for the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz, added: “There is no basis for Netanyahu’s supporters to boast about a complete victory. One must be a blindly devoted follower, having abandoned all remnants of doubt and criticism, to believe that Israel has truly defeated Hamas.”
He pointed out that “despite suffering a massive military blow, Hamas has not surrendered. On the contrary, it is gradually working to restore its civil administration in Gaza and has begun rebuilding its military infrastructure.”
He continued: “This situation contradicts Netanyahu’s statements about the objectives of the war and the promises he made during it.”
American Preparations
Harel also addressed the U.S. role in the region, affirming that President Donald Trump’s administration is working to fully implement a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire in Gaza, in contrast to Netanyahu’s desire to focus solely on the first phase.
On January 19, the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect. Its first phase is set to last for 42 days, during which negotiations will take place to launch the second and third phases, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
Harel pointed to the visit of Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, noting that it reflects American interest in advancing the implementation of the agreement.
Witkoff arrived in Israel on his private jet early Wednesday morning and met with Netanyahu, conveying messages about the necessity of starting negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and ensuring its completion through all three stages, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.
Harel added: “Washington views the first phase of the deal as a necessary transitional step toward the second phase, which in turn paves the way for a larger agreement, including major economic contracts between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, along with the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.”
He continued: “Envoy Witkoff is here (in Israel) to ensure that Israel remains on the path set by Trump.”
He also mentioned that “the key details will be discussed next week in a meeting between Trump and Netanyahu in Washington,” emphasizing that this meeting “holds special significance.”
According to Harel, “Israel sees this meeting as a great honor, as Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to visit the White House since Trump’s inauguration. However, it is also likely that Trump will impose demands on Netanyahu during this meeting.”
Challenges of Displacement
In the same context, Harel referred to Trump’s statements regarding the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, highlighting the practical difficulties in implementing this proposal.
He explained that “the idea is partly aimed at maintaining the stability of Netanyahu’s coalition with the far-right.”
However, he cautioned: “In reality, the chances of implementing this plan are slim. Washington’s negotiating power in the Middle East regarding migration is not as effective as it is in Latin America. Trump appears to be handling Gaza as if it were a real estate project, but resettling populations requires comprehensive planning and international cooperation.”
He added: “These ideas align with the longstanding hope of the Israeli right to remove Palestinians from the scene, but every one of these schemes will face ongoing Palestinian resistance, backed by Arab states. At present, it is difficult to see any Arab leader supporting Trump’s proposal for migration from Gaza.”
On January 25, Trump, for the first time, proposed relocating Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan, citing the alleged “lack of habitable areas in Gaza,” which Israel has devastated for over 15 months.
Several countries, including Jordan, Iraq, France, and Germany, along with the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the United Nations, have rejected Trump’s proposal.
Egypt also firmly stated that “the deportation or displacement of the Palestinian people is an injustice we cannot partake in,” reaffirming its commitment to working with Trump to achieve peace based on a two-state solution.
