TEHRAN- Israel has been caught between a rock and a hard place as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making desperate attempts to cover up his army’s failures in the Gaza battlefield.

The Israeli army waged war on Gaza after Hamas carried out a surprise military operation called Al-Aqsa Strom in southern Israel on October 7. 

Since then, Netanyahu has vowed to achieve “total victory” over Hamas and “destroy” the resistance group. 

But he has not only failed to make good on his promise but also his army has suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of resistance fighters. About 700 Israeli troops have been killed during the nearly 11-month war. 

Netanyahu is now facing the dilemma of ending the war in order to prevent further casualties among his forces or continuing the onslaught which will lead to growing domestic and international pressure on his regime.  
In the meantime, Israeli media have suggested that the Israeli premier has decided to bite the bullet. 

Weird hallucination 

Israel's Kan TV news reported late Friday that the army’s fighting in the Gaza Strip has ended. 

Citing the Israeli army, the channel claimed that the Rafah Brigade of Hamas has been defeated and the resistance group practically does not exist. The report also said most of the fighting units of Hamas have been disbanded. It added that senior Israeli military officials told the political echelon that this is the time to start a captive deal.  

Debunking claims 

If the Kan TV report was to be true, it would mean that Netanyahu has achieved his main goal of eliminating Hamas. 

A look at the comments made by Israeli officials can help shed light on the matter. 

War minister Yoav Gallant is the latest senior Israeli official who poured cold water on Netanyahu’s dream of defeating Hamas as he spoke during a closed-door hearing before a Knesset committee on Monday.

Gallant told the Knesset members that Netanyahu’s “total victory” slogan is “nonsense” and “gibberish”.  

He also said during the hearing that Israel is “at a crossroads” between a deal to return the captives, a ceasefire in Gaza, and lowering the flames on the northern front, versus continuing to pound Hamas but without receiving the captives and then full-out war against Hezbollah and possibly Iran. 

Gallant added that he supports the first option. 

On June 19, the Israeli military spokesman also cast doubt over Netanyahu’s war aim. 

“The idea that it is possible to destroy Hamas, to make Hamas vanish — that is throwing sand in the eyes of the public,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told Israel’s Channel 13. He added, “Hamas is an idea, deeply rooted in the hearts of the residents of Gaza. To replace those who handle civil services and distribute or steal food, something else needs to be established. This is a decision for the political echelon, and the army will implement it.”

The comments made by the Israeli war minister and the army spokesman indicate that defeating Hamas is wishful thinking.  

Absolute fiasco 

Previously, the Israeli military’s intelligence and the US intelligence community have downplayed Netanyahu’s claim regarding the elimination of Hamas. 
Hence, the Israeli army is trying to put on a brave face by claiming victory over Hamas. 
Likewise, Israel is bracing for an attack from Iran in retaliation for the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
Haniyeh was assassinated in an Israeli strike in the Iranian capital. He had traveled to the city to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Masoud Pezeshkian. 
Hezbollah has also vowed to retaliate against Israel for the assassination of one of its senior commanders in Beirut in late July.  
It seems that fears over retaliation by Iran and Hezbollah and the absolute military fiasco on the Gaza battlefield have promoted Israel to mull over plans to end its brutal onslaught in Gaza. 
This comes after two days of talks aimed at halting Israel’s war on Gaza ended in the Qatari capital on Friday. 
The US, Egypt and Qatar which mediated the negotiations called their meeting with Israeli officials constructive. But Hamas expressed skepticism over the results of the talks which are set to continue in Cario next week. 
The US fears that it would have to face the consequences if the Gaza war and an imminent confrontation between Israel and Iran spiral into an all-out regional war. 

Israeli crimes in Gaza

Israel has slaughtered more than 40,000 Palestinians including nearly 16,500 children in Gaza since the start of the Gaza war. 

The regime has also perpetrated massacres across the territory which have sparked a global outcry. 

The Israeli army has not spared hospitals and people who have taken refuge there. 

It has not only bombed but also raided health centers which, according to international law, must be protected. 

Undoubtedly, butchering defenseless civilians is Israel’s only achievement during the Gaza war. 

This is because the Netanyahu regime has also failed to secure the release of the remaining captives held in Gaza. 

More than 1,100 people were killed and about 250 others taken captive when Hamas carried out the Al-Aqsa Storm Operation.

Over 100 Israeli and foreign captives were released following a swap deal between Israel and Hamas in November last year. 

Israel says 111 captives are still being held in Gaza, 39 of whom are presumed dead. Most of them have lost their lives during Israeli strikes in Gaza. 

Israel will have to end the Gaza war sooner or later as Hamas is putting up stiff resistance against the regime’s forces. 

A ceasefire with Hamas could pave the way for the release of the remaining captives held in Gaza. But, the extent of Israel’s brutalities in the Gaza Strip and the complicity of the US and some of its Western allies in the regime’s genocidal war in the Palestinian territory will go down in history.