Despite Israel's past concerns over a ground incursion into Gaza, the current war is proving to be on the right course. Hamas fighters withdraw from confrontation with the IDF forces having mistakenly gambled on a limited Israeli offensive, to avoid casualties and after international pressure.
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But the images that were released on Thursday, showing large numbers of men, some who had surrendered to the troops and others who were captured, sitting stiped of their clothes on the ground under Israeli troop's guard. The military's aggressive maneuvers have succeeded in eliminating Hamas's military capabilities, where battles were fought.
There are still many areas in Gaza where fighting continues. Forces have not yet entered the refugee camps in the center of the Strip, and rafah in the south. But already now, it is evident that the central governance of Hamas, in Gaza City and around Khan Younis, is collapsing in full view of the Middle East that is receiving the message well. If the war continues, Hamas will face military defeat.
Despite Hezbollah's fire in the north and Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting Eilat in the South, Gaza is alone. The Iran-backed Lebanese terror group has not began an all-out war on Israel and after two months of limited fire, does not appear to be willing to extend its offensives. Some 100 Hezbollah fighters have already been killed but the Sunni Muslim world is critical of the Shi'ite terrorists who seem to be doing no more than the minimum in the fight against the Jews. Hezbollah and its masters in Iran have good reason to avoid all-out war, after the images of destruction in Gaza, are a reminder to them of the firepower available to the IDF.
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Funeral of the son of a senior official in Hezbollah killed by IDF
( Photo: Alaa Al-Marjani / Reuters)
Slow but increasing condemnations of Hamas are being heard in Gaza, while most civilians there still support the group and its popularity surges in the West Bank. But after Hamas terrorists usurped humanitarian aid delivered by the UN for the civilians, and fuel that was needed for critical infrastructure, and as Hamas leaders hide in underground tunnels leaving the population over ground and exposed to the war and the elements, there is a growing anger towards the long-time rulers.
Gaza is falling apart. Many have been forced out of their homes in the northern areas in the early days of the war and now in Khan Younis and other towns in the south. They may not have homes to return to after the fighting.
Hamas does not even try to offer solutions for the displaced and its leaders remain in hiding while its operatives steal what they can of the humanitarian supplies. Gazans understand Hamas and its leader Yahya Sinwar are responsible for their fate.
The terror group expected Israeli Arab citizens would rise against Israel after they rioted during the May 2021 conflict. The atrocities committed by the terrorists on October 7 could be part of the reason there appears to be little support for the group. Muslim Israelis were among the victims of the attack and some have been taken captive and held hostage in Gaza. In poling the Arab sector increased its affiliation with Israeli society in General, since the war began.
On the West Bank Hamas has also failed to incite a violent uprising against Israel. Attempted terror attacks are a daily occurrence but the call issued by the leader of the Hamas military wing, Muhammed Deif calling on Palestinians there to take up arms, has mostly remained unanswered and the Palestinian Authority that was also called by Deif to fight the Israeli forces, continues to quietly maintain security cooperation with their IDF and Shin Bet counterparts, as forces raid hotspots and arrest large numbers of Hamas operatives.
The United States has given Israel the greenlight to continue its offensive at least until January of 2024. Although international condemnation of the Israeli action continues, Washington seems undeterred.
While public opinion supports Hamas in the war, the efforts to bring to light the atrocities committed by the terrorists is beginning to change the tied. The war in Gaza is no longer the lead in world media reports that have moved on to other stories. Christmas nearing and the interest in international affairs is declining.
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Former Meta executive Sheril Sandberg at the UN calling for condemnation of Hamas rape and atrocities
(Photo: UN)
And in Israel, the population has proven its fortitude in the face of the disaster in suffered in the Hamas assault. Despite the fracture in the society brought on by the efforts of the far-right government to alter Israel's democratic institutions, Israelis showed they were stronger than their leaders and the efforts to pit groups against each other, crashed against the will to unite during the challenging times.
Although many Israelis struggle with the horrific events of the Hamas attack, concern for those held hostage in Gaza and troops that are fighting the war, and while the future in the Strip and that inside Israel is unclear, there are a few achievements that should be noted and celebrated.