Israel has achieved all it can in its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, several US officials told the New York Times in an article published Thursday, saying that the Israel Defense Forces would never be able to completely eradicate the terror group, APA reports citing The Times of Israel.
The report, citing current and former US and Israeli officials, said that only a deal, not military pressure, could secure the release of the remaining 115 living and dead captives in Gaza who were abducted on October 7. Still, the report said, Israel’s Gaza offensive has achieved far more against Hamas than US officials had predicted in October.
“Israel has been able to disrupt Hamas, kill a number of their leaders and largely reduce the threat to Israel that existed before October 7,” Gen. Joseph L. Votel, the former head of US CENTCOM, told the Times, adding that Hamas has been “diminished.”
Responding to the Times, the Israel Defense Force said that “the IDF and its commanders are committed to achieving the goals of the war to dismantle Hamas and bring home our hostages, and will continue to operate with determination to achieve them.”
The report came as CIA director William Burns was set to arrive in Qatar Thursday for renewed hostages-for-ceasefire talks. Amos Hochstein, the White House’s special Middle East adviser, said in Beirut Wednesday that a deal “would prevent an outbreak of a wider war.” Both officials were expected to relay the message that Israel cannot do anything more against Hamas militarily, the Times said.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
