Yaakov Lappin
JNS, Oct. 9, 2023
“To put things in perspective, “Operation Defensive Shield,” launched by Israel in Judea and Samaria in 2002 following a murderous wave of Palestinian suicide bombings and shootings, took some three years to complete.”
The mass-murder rampage conducted by Hamas death squads on southern communities in Gaza on Saturday has seen Israel unleash unprecedented air power against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, but it is clear that this is only a prelude to further Israeli action.
The Israeli security cabinet will have received a number of options from the Israel Defense Forces for the type, scope and objectives of the military campaign that Israel will choose as its response to the atrocities. Meanwhile, calls to investigate the multiple, catastrophic failures of intelligence and operational readiness will be placed on hold until after the war.
Whatever the security cabinet ends up choosing, it will have to order a major ground maneuver in order to destroy the Hamas terror army and regime, following the horrific war crimes it rained down on Israeli southern communities.
Any action short of this would undermine Israel’s strategic standing in the Middle East and form a green light for Hezbollah, Iran and other adversaries to attack as well.
The security cabinet released a statement on Sunday after convening and making a series of operational decisions, and stated that its goal is “to achieve the destruction of the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in a way that will preclude their ability and willingness to threaten and attack the citizens of Israel for many years.”
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