NEW DELHI: Israel initiated preparations for a ground incursion into Gaza shortly after facing an attack on October 7. This attack was in response to a surprise land-air-water assault by Hamas militants.
On Friday, the Israeli military confirmed that troops and tanks conducted a brief operation in northern Gaza overnight, engaging with Hamas fighters and targeting anti-tank weaponry to “prepare the battlefield” in anticipation of an imminent ground invasion. In a statement, the army said, “In the past 24 hours, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed ground forces, along with IDF fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), for another focused operation in the central Gaza Strip.”
Recently, in an exclusive interview with The New Indian, Amos Gilead, former chief of IDF, outlined Israel‘s preparations for a ground invasion of Gaza with the aim of completely eliminating Hamastan.
Speaking of “destroying” Hamas, Gilead said, “First of all, we are attacking the Arab League with our air force. We are preparing the army to use the ground forces. Although I can’t speak much about it, we need to destroy Hamastan sooner or later.”
He further divulged that the IDF is currently targeting Hamas’ military infrastructure to prepare for a potential ground operation with the strategic goal of dismantling Hamastan. Hamas is launching rockets that threaten Israeli citizens.
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“The IDF is using its air force to repair its own infrastructure and dismantle Hamas’, which will aid in dealing with them and ultimately ending its presence as a political and military terrorist organisation.
According to him, Hamas has always channelled its resources and efforts toward attacking Israel rather than focusing on the well-being of the Palestinian population it claims to represent.
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Discussing how Hamas’ approach hindered the prosperity of the Palestinian people, he said, “The leadership of Hamas exerts strong control through a harsh dictatorship, they didn’t have money to support or didn’t allow any economic project to support Palestinians there. Instead, they have invested a huge fortune in building extensive infrastructure, including tunnels and various components,” he explained.
“Nonetheless, I think we have hit a significant or substantial part of the group. It’s very difficult to measure it mathematically. However, it’s very important that every day we are increasing our attacks and diminishing their capabilities. And at the end of the day, the strategic goal is to destroy Hamas,” he added.
India Is Superpower:
Gilead also discussed the future plans post-Hamas war. He mentioned that following a victory over Hamas, Israel aims to build stronger partnerships with countries like the US, Egypt, Jordan, and extend peace agreements to include nations such as the UAE and Morocco. The ultimate objective is to promote stability in the region and strengthen the alliance for peace. During the conversation, he also acknowledged India’s significant global role and expressed appreciation for its friendship with Israel.
“First, we need to defeat Hamas. Second, we need to join hands with the US, with our neighbours, Egypt, and Jordan, and by accords like UAE, Morocco, and expand, and widen the peace camp to Saudi Arabia.
“In India, you have Pakistan and China as your enemy. But you are a superpower. You are so big. You are the biggest today. You are the biggest superpower in the world. Therefore, I would like to thank India for its friendship with Israel,” he said.