Israel wages war in defense of the Western world against Hamas.
Israeli Defense Forces Prepare for “Long War” Against Hamas
Israeli Defense Forces are mobilizing for “a long war” against Hamas, according to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who characterized the looming campaign as a “fight for the Western world.”
Israel: The Last Frontier of the West
“Israel is the last frontier of the West. Israel is the last place — when you go east, you will find terror organizations,” Cohen said on Monday. “We will fight for humanity. We will fight for the Western world. We will fight against demons.”
Ordering a “Total Siege” of Gaza
That message represented a frank argument for sustained international support ahead of a showdown in the Gaza Strip, where 2.3 million Palestinian civilians live in close proximity to untold thousands of terrorists. Israeli media reports suggest that 1,500 of the Hamas terrorists were killed inside Israel over the weekend during a rampage that raises the specter of a protracted conflict in Gaza.
A War Against Terrorism
“It’s very important for us to say we are at war,” Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat said in a question and answer session following Cohen’s remarks. “This is a war against a terrorist organization. Our main goal is to ensure that Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip will not ever have the capability to do these kind of atrocities again.”
Unprecedented Attacks and Galvanized Support
Hamas raiding parties poured into Israel after breaking through or even flying over the border fence between the Jewish state and the Gaza Strip. Having caught Israeli Defense Forces and law enforcement by surprise, they “attacked the Israeli army’s southern Gaza headquarters and jammed its communications, preventing personnel from calling commanders or each other,” according to Reuters, slowing the Israeli response.
They inflicted “ISIS-level savagery” on lightly defended Israeli communities, as a senior U.S. official put it, and their “ISIS-level style tactics and techniques” have galvanized trans-Atlantic support for Israel.
Preparing for a Ground Offensive
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly has notified Biden that Israeli forces will launch a ground offensive into Gaza, 18 years after the IDF pulled out of the strip on the theory that they could contain the terrorist elements inside the Palestinian-populated areas.
The Challenge of Fighting Terrorism in Urban Areas
The conflict will raise the conundrum of how to fight a terrorist organization in an urban area. Israeli tactics frequently have drawn condemnation from international human rights observers such as Amnesty International, which has accused Israeli forces of imposing “a form of collective punishment against the civilian population” of the Gaza Strip.
A Call for Solidarity and Support
Cohen sought to preempt such criticism on Monday as he welcomed the “solidarity and the firm support of Israel” evinced by world leaders in recent days.
“We trust this support will continue as we meet the challenge of fighting terror,” the Israeli foreign minister said. “And it will take time. It will not take a few days. It will take a long time.”
Seeking a New Model for Peace
U.S. and European powers have made repeated efforts to broker a “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but a peace deal has proven elusive for decades. The haunting footage of Israeli victims that Hamas terrorists published on social media throughout the attack may galvanize European powers to take a more supportive posture towards Israel going forward, the official added.
“We can, I think, not just watch but actively work with Israelis to discuss with them what can be done,” the senior Central European official said. “It could be that people start … thinking more creatively. And, just will not be that much fixed to the old paradigm, to Oslo Accords, to a model developed in a very different situation in the 80s and 90s, and will come up with new ideas, a new model that can, in the end, help also Palestinians have more secular lives and to live without terrorism, without Hamas, and without violence.”
Israel’s top diplomat sounded skeptical that such an outcome could be possible. “They don’t want to live next to us,” Cohen said. “They want to destroy Israel.”
What tactics and strategies do Israeli forces employ to minimize collateral damage and harm to innocent civilians in their fight against Hamas in urban areas?
Sm in Urban Areas
The looming conflict presents a unique challenge for the Israeli Defense Forces in their fight against Hamas. As Hamas operates within densely populated urban areas in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces must navigate the complexities of urban warfare to minimize civilian casualties while targeting the terrorist organization. Hamas has a long history of using civilian infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, as cover for their activities, making it difficult for Israeli forces to differentiate between combatants and non-combatants. Israeli forces have been preparing for this long war by honing their urban warfare tactics and devising strategies to minimize collateral damage. The use of precision-guided munitions and advanced technology, such as drones and cyber capabilities, has become crucial in targeting Hamas operatives while minimizing harm to innocent civilians. The Israeli Defense Forces have faced international criticism for their actions in the ongoing conflict. Many have accused Israel of disproportionate force and human rights violations. However, Israel maintains that it is acting in self-defense against a terrorist organization that indiscriminately targets its civilian population. Israel continues to emphasize its commitment to minimizing civilian casualties and conducting investigations into any incidents of potential misconduct by its forces. It has also called upon the international community to recognize the challenges it faces in fighting a terrorist organization that operates within civilian areas and exploits human shields. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is deeply complex and extends far beyond the current conflict with Hamas. The root causes of the conflict, including territorial disputes and the lack of a political resolution, must be addressed to achieve long-term stability in the region. While the Israeli Defense Forces prepare for a long war against Hamas, political leaders must also work towards a diplomatic solution that addresses the aspirations and grievances of both Israelis and Palestinians. This includes negotiations to establish a viable two-state solution and a comprehensive peace agreement. The Israeli Defense Forces are mobilizing for a long war against Hamas, recognizing the need to protect the Western world from terrorism. As they prepare for this conflict, they face the challenge of fighting a terrorist organization that operates within densely populated urban areas. Israel remains committed to minimizing civilian casualties and is addressing international criticism while urging a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The upcoming conflict is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Israel in ensuring its security and the need for a comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Only through a combination of military action and diplomatic efforts can true peace and stability be achieved in the region.Addressing International Criticism
A Complex Reality and the Need for a Political Solution
Conclusion
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