(Washington Post) Steve Hendrix - As Israel and Hamas near the end of a four-day pause in combat - with the possibility of short-term extensions - there is broad agreement in Israel that the all-out war to eliminate Hamas is far from over. Combat operations will begin as soon as the hostage release deal is complete, officials said. "We will return immediately at the end of the ceasefire to attacking Gaza," Israeli army Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi said Saturday. "We will do it to dismantle Hamas and also to create great pressure to return as quickly as possible as many hostages as possible." Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) President Yohanan Plesner said, "There is no basis in [Israeli] public opinion for anything having to do with a ceasefire with Hamas or any diplomatic solution. There's a broad understanding that there is no way we can restore security, stability or any kind of peaceful relations with Palestinians without eliminating Hamas. And that means more ground operations."
2023-11-27 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive