by Kobi Eliraz, former Advisor to the Defense Minister on Settlement Affairs, translated by Hillel Fendel.
As one who has been actively involved on the front lines in the Gaza Strip for several months now, I am well aware of the gap between the IDF's actual significant achievements in this war, and the public perception that we are not truly making great progress.
While the IDF indeed failed in its mission on October 7th - the result of the mistaken conception we all lived by, some more than others – it is important to know that even that very day, our forces regrouped, recovered, and found great strengths. In reality, we have had quite a few accomplishments on the battlefield, despite the boastful declarations by Hamas and its leaders. In the following lines, I will enumerate these achievements, and also point out the goals and areas in which we need to improve.
Ever since the IDF attacked the Gaza Strip following the Hamas massacre, our forces have exacted a significant civilian toll among the residents on all battlefields – north, south and central Gaza, in both urban and rural areas – while finding much evidence of the widespread extent of their hostility and support for terrorism.
IDF forces razed tens of thousands of buildings and numerous civilian infrastructures, primarily those used by Hamas. The immense destruction we have caused has decreased, somewhat, the motivation of the other side to attack us and to continue supporting Hamas. It also sends a crucial message to others of our Middle Eastern enemies watching from the sidelines: "Whoever attacks us, remember: the price tag will be heavy."
Thus far, most of the underground infrastructures of Hamas have been destroyed. It is true that we were taken by surprise - and still are at times - from the extent of the underground city in Gaza. The fact is, however, that we have succeeded in destroying 70% of it (according to my estimation), using various means that keep on getting better. By the end of the current offensive in Rafah, I expect that we will have demolished 80% of the infrastructures.
On the other hand, preserving this achievement and preventing the renewal of these underground cities when Gaza is once again rebuilt are critical objectives, in which we must invest much thought and creativity.
Another important move that we have made there is to expand the "buffer zone" perimeter to one kilometer throughout the length of the Gaza Strip, within Gaza. Our forces have destroyed every building, orchard and greenhouse in this area, leaving us with a kilometer-wide zone that in effect distances the border from us and enables us a much better defense. Maintaining this achievement also requires much work.
In the seven-plus months of fighting we have also depleted the ranks of the terrorists, killing most of the combat fighters and wounding many as well. Many Nukhba troops (elite Hamas commando units who carried out the Simchat Torah massacre) are still active, but a large part of their leadership has been killed. The remaining enemy forces continue to cause us occasional casualties, but their effectiveness has been clearly depleted. The same is true for the amount of weapons they have, compared to the colossal amounts they held at the beginning of the war.
And last but not at all least: our soldiers' fighting spirit. If there were any questions and doubts about Israel's Tik-Tok generation's motivation to defend their country, the war came along and not only dispelled these reservations, but has shown the opposite. The question marks have become exclamation points, providing great encouragement regarding the state of our youth and society. The fighters take the offensive, and are imbued with a spirit of combativeness, great motivation, and notable capabilities.
Of course, there is still much to improve. Topping the list is the painful matter of the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Aside from several dozen who were released during the ceasefire, a few others who were rescued by the IDF, and a few corpses that the army was able to locate and extract (involving great effort) – over 120 hostages still remain there, dead or alive.
Second in importance is the fact that many Hamas leaders, including the top ones, have still not been killed. They are important symbols of Hamas strength, and thereby continue to inject life into the Hamas war effort.
Another point that we must note is that a significant amount of Hamas terrorists have returned to areas that the IDF already succeeded in conquering and cleaning out. They have also begun rebuilding the terrorist infrastructures there. Similar problems have arisen regarding the Philadelphi route and the Rafah district in southern Gaza. This is something that must be dealt with immediately.
The IDF is expected to complete its mission in Rafah within a few weeks, and consideration must be given to the question of who will control the area afterwards. Both above and below ground must be secured, and ground obstacles that will prevent the prevalent smuggling of arms into Gaza must be built. The same applies to the new Netzarim route: Who will hold it, and how? Is another route needed between Rafah and Khan Yunis, and perhaps elsewhere? Despite the controversies surrounding the issue, it is becoming clear to all that the IDF must and will continue to hold the Gaza Strip in the near future, though it is not clear how this will be manifest. Clear statements from Israel's diplomatic echelon are also required here.
Israel's strategy during this war is to conquer territory, save soldiers' lives, and not cause harm to our captives. Fighting this type of war comes at the price of slow advancement of our forces, the enemy's ability to constantly reorganize, and more. In addition, the international pressure, in the form of recognition of a Palestinian state, arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, and the Hague's demand for an end to the Rafah offensive, make it quite difficult for us to achieve our defined war objectives.
It can be said that we have failed to present our case effectively in the world arena, though the international community has long been known for its hypocrisy and ignorance when it comes to the Israeli-Arab conflict. However, it is still better late than never. We must not give up on the very important issue, and we have no choice but to invest great efforts in fighting on this critical front.
An objective examination of the seven months of fighting in Gaza reveals significant achievements in the campaign. It can cautiously be said that we are actually winning, though dozens of captives still remain concealed in Gaza. A structured and detailed plan for Israel's continued presence in Gaza for at least the coming decade is direly required.