Israeli experts: We are unable to achieve victory and "Hamas" steadfast in Gaza

As the bloody Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip continues, specifically on the city of Gaza, acknowledgments within Israeli circles are increasing regarding the difficulty of achieving what is called "absolute victory," despite the rising internal calls for its necessity due to the far-reaching strategic implications it carries, regionally and internationally.

This impasse, according to Israeli experts who spoke to the right-wing Israeli newspaper "Makor Rishon," places the occupation in a difficult predicament, especially with the ongoing policy of extermination against civilians without a clear military resolution.

The newspaper quoted several security and military analysts stating that "the Israeli army, despite what it describes as significant achievements, is still unable to claim victory, while Hamas clings to the city of Gaza, demonstrating that it has withstood for nearly two years against one of the strongest armies in the region."

Professor Ephraim Inbar, former president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, explained that "Hamas is still able to claim victory, as the resistance has endured for a long time, and it is clearly winning the propaganda war, because this conflict is not a boxing match decided by points; Israel needs a knockout blow that it has not yet achieved."

He added that "Israel needs a symbolic image showing Hamas fighters exiting Gaza, as happened with the PLO in Beirut in 1982, which has not yet been realized."

General Gabi Siboni, a senior fellow at the Institute for Strategic Studies and a former military advisor, also called for "imposing a complete and effective siege on the city of Gaza before any comprehensive ground maneuver, similar to what the allies did against Nazi Germany," criticizing the government's hesitation to take decisive steps despite the risks to the lives of hostages.

Meanwhile, Professor Hillel Frisch, an expert on Arab world affairs at Bar-Ilan University, drew a comparison between the occupation strategies in the West Bank and Gaza, noting that "complete security control in the West Bank since Operation Defensive Shield in 2002 prevented rocket launches, while the withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 led to 1,700 Israeli casualties and the launch of 20,000 rockets."

He considered that "the only viable scenario after the war, albeit costly, is to form a transitional Israeli military government in the sector, as relying on the Palestinian Authority is merely an illusion."

For his part, Brigadier General Yossi Kuperwasser, former head of the research division in the occupation's intelligence (Aman), emphasized that "the October 7 attack constituted a historical mistake that cannot be allowed to be repeated, and the way to prevent that is to clearly defeat Hamas, which has not yet been achieved."

He added that "the alternative to military victory is direct control over Gaza, a option that may be on the table despite its complications."

As military operations continue, these discussions within Israeli circles reveal a real strategic impasse, as any outcome less than a "decisive victory" will be considered a defeat, according to the experts themselves, at a time when the international community is pressing for a halt to the aggression and the opening of a new political path.