(Israel Hayom) Meir Ben Shabbat - The ground operation of the IDF is achieving its objectives. The first line of defense of the enemy in the Gaza City area has been breached. Extensive aerial and artillery attacks have preceded the ground forces and have accompanied their movements. In close combat with Hamas terrorists emerging from tunnels, mosques, and hidden locations prepared in advance, our soldiers have had an upper hand. Effective cooperation between ground, air, and naval forces, with intelligence and the Israel Security Agency, significantly enhances defense capabilities and serves as a force multiplier. The siege on Gaza has a dual purpose: to exhaust the enemy and limit its capabilities, and to contribute directly to Hamas' loss of control over the population. A siege that allows for exceptions is not a siege. There is a need to rebuff demands of expanding humanitarian aid, fuel supplies, or ideas regarding a humanitarian ceasefire. Anything that enters Gaza will be used by Hamas for fighting Israel. As long as Hamas holds hostages and ignores all humanitarian values, a tough policy should be maintained, allowing goods into Gaza only as required, and only to the southern part, under strict supervision. Disrupting the internet and communication in Gaza is crucial to disrupting Hamas' control and preventing the flow of information that could hinder our forces' operations. Though there may be advantages to keeping the internet on, they are outweighed by the disadvantages. The writer, head of the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy in Jerusalem, served as Israel's national security advisor and head of the National Security Council.
2023-11-05 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive