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Mr. Netanyahu known as the Hamas video “merciless psychological warfare.”
Hamas is ready for an extended, bloody combat, and its fighters have turned Gaza right into a labyrinth of tunnels, stocked with weapons and meals. Among the hostages are hidden within the tunnels, lots of that are doubtless booby-trapped.
After pounding Gaza and its individuals with artillery and bombs, the Israeli military moved in on Friday. Thus far, the Israeli navy has superior to the outskirts of Gaza Metropolis however not entered the Hamas stronghold. Fierce city preventing is predicted once they do.
Rob Saale, the previous head of the F.B.I.-led Hostage Restoration Fusion Cell, mentioned Israel was dealing with an unprecedented scenario.
“There aren’t any straightforward options,” Mr. Saale mentioned. “I feel the Israelis are pursuing the suitable course. You possibly can’t let the hostages dictate what you’re doing. Persevering with to place lots of stress on Hamas might be the easiest way to get them again. Hamas isn’t going to free hostages from a place of energy.”
Lt. Gen. Mark C. Schwartz, a retired Particular Operations commander who previously served as U.S. safety coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, mentioned that Israel has doubtless embedded commandos inside its advancing floor items in order that they will act shortly in the event that they obtain recent intelligence on hostage places.
Different former senior officers who’ve served fight excursions within the Center East painted a grim image of attempting to get well the hostages — both via negotiations or navy rescue — as Israeli forces pushed deeper into Gaza.
Gen. Richard D. Clarke, a retired head of the U.S. Particular Operations Command, mentioned the circumstances in Gaza — an lively warfare zone, the big variety of hostages, scarce intelligence on their precise places and Hamas’s preparations to defend in opposition to an Israeli assault — make any hostage restoration operation “extraordinarily difficult.”
“Getting the hostages out will likely be very tough,” mentioned Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., a retired head of the U.S. navy’s Central Command. “Hamas will attempt to create dilemmas for the Israelis — placing them close to command posts, rocket launching websites and ammo dumps — so long as they will.”
The three generals all predicted a prolonged combat, presumably taking months.
“I don’t suppose Hamas will fold,” mentioned Basic Schwartz. “They need to kill Israeli troopers, and I anticipate there to be brutal preventing.”
Yair Golan, a former deputy chief of workers within the Israel Protection Forces who helped rescue partygoers at a music pageant that was attacked on Oct. 7, mentioned the hostages should be a precedence as Israel conducts the warfare in opposition to Hamas.
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