What’s happening:

Senior commanders in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) reportedly see a contradiction in Israel’s dual objectives of weakening Hamas and rescuing Israeli hostages, according to a New York Times article.

Why it matters:

This conflict in goals represents a fundamental challenge in Israel’s strategy against Hamas, indicating potential limitations in military engagement and raising concerns about the efficacy of current strategies. International perspectives, such as that of Andreas Krieg from King’s College, suggest the situation is “unwinnable,” and political leadership faces broader critique on their post-conflict plans for Gaza.

The IDF’s official stance:

Despite the anonymously cited commanders, the IDF rebuts the claim, highlighting hostage release as a key war goal to be achieved through continued efforts.

The situation on ground:

While IDF control has been established in Gaza City, Khan Younis remains embattled, and operations in Rafah have not reached expectations. Additionally, Hamas’s tunnel networks have been greatly underestimated, presenting a more robust challenge.

Postwar planning paralysis:

The commanders’ grievances extend to politicians failing to devise any clear plan for Gaza once the military campaign concludes. Concerns focus on preserving Israel’s allied support and ensuring gains on the battlefield are not lost due to lack of governance.

Uncertain future for Gaza control:

While northern Gaza has been mostly cleared, there are signs of Hamas’s resurging control, questioning the permanency of the IDF’s progress. Noteworthy is the caution from IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and criticisms from War Cabinet Minister Gadi Eisenkot.

Gadi Eisenkot expresses skepticism:

Eisenkot, addressing unrealistic expectations of defeating Hamas entirely, accentuates inadequacies in the existing strategy and asserts the objectives of the war remain unfulfilled.

Defense Minister’s declaration:

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signals a winding down of intensive operations in some regions and cautions against ‘political indecision.’ He emphasizes the importance of continued safekeeping measures for achieving overall victory.

Heading into 2024:

Prospects for continuing conflict into 2024 indicate Israel’s commitment to disable Hamas militarily. However, mixed messaging and IDF concerns convey complexities in reconciling a defined military victory with the wider security and humanitarian implications tied to the return of Israeli hostages.

This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.