As the war between Israel and Hamas enters its second week, it is expected that nothing will be the same, at least Gaza will not be the same as Israel has vowed to carry out a ground offensive.
Last Friday, Israel ordered Palestinians in northern Gaza to flee to the south “for their safety” ahead of the intended ground invasion.
“We are asking them to evacuate so that we will be able to continue to strike military targets belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip,” Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Spokesperson, Jonathan Conricus said.
Apart from risking the lives of captives taken by Hamas, the ground offensive risks spreading the war to other territories.
No nation is an “island.” Every nation has allies; other nation(s) that shares good ties with it.
These countries become like a fraternity, moving in the defence of the other or refusal to condemn certain actions of the other.
As such, the ongoing war between the Hamas and IDF has somewhat pit the western world against the Arab nations.
Iran, for one, will not fold its ams and remain an observer if Israel launches its ground offensive.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned Israel of regional escalation.
“If the measures aimed at immediately stopping the Israeli attacks that are killing children in the Gaza Strip end in a deadlock, it is highly probable that many other fronts will be opened. This option is not ruled out and this is becoming increasingly more probable.”
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
Amir-Abdollahian affirmed this stance when he met Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha.
“If the attacks of the Zionist regime against civilians and the defenceless people of Gaza persist, no one can guarantee that the situation will be under control and the scope of the fighting won’t expand,” he said.
Israel is well aware of the possibility of the war escalating as it bombed the airports in Aleppo and Damascus.
It said that it bombed the airports in Syria to stop potential Iranian mobilisation efforts there.
On Sunday, Israel declared its border with Lebanon a closed military zone. Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah has already started.
Even, U.S who has vowed ironclad support for Israel has admitted to the war escation possibility.
“There is a risk of an escalation of this conflict, the opening of a second front in the north and, of course, Iran’s involvement,” White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan disclosed.
Israeli Ground Invasion Unable To Totally Eliminate Hamas
The IDF disclosed on Friday, “Our aim is to take all of Hamas’s military abilities and strip them away. At the end of this war, Our intention is that Hamas will no longer have any ability to strike or harm or kill Israeli civilians.”
During its 2014 attack on Gaza, Israel tried to eliminate Hamas through a ground invasion but could not follow through.
This shows that it will be very difficult for Israel to totally get rid of Hamas, who have networks of underground tunnels beneath Gaza.
Distinguishing Hamas militants from civilians has been a headache to Israel as they merge so well with the normal inhabitants.
Even the evacuation order for civilians will not only “save” civilians but Hamas as well.
What is the guarantee that a number of Hamas militants will not mingle with civilians as they migrate to the south?
And if they land in the south, won’t they be restructure and strike again even if it takes years?
Zoran Kusovac, a military analyst affirmed this school of thought as he opined to a news agency that the eradication of Hamas is impossible.
“It’s a complete impossibility because it’s not like you can distinguish fighters from civilians. Of course, Israeli secret services have identified many of them. But in a situation where you’re fighting, it’s very difficult.”
Zoran Kusovac
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