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Intensifying Israeli Strikes in Gaza Will Save Lives and End the War
(Israel Hayom) Meir Ben Shabbat - There is no doubt about the sincerity of the declarations by President Biden and his people. Even if their vision regarding Gaza does not match that in Israel, they are fully in lockstep with Jerusalem on the need to topple Hamas and destroy its military capabilities. They see this as a moral goal in and of itself, as part of the fight against the forces of evil. The Biden administration's support for Israel has been expressed in concrete steps - from vetoing resolutions at the Security Council and arranging special financial assistance and supplying ammunition, to deterrent measures towards Iran and its proxies. However, at the same time, Washington has been setting expectations regarding the conduct of the war. The simplest way to bring about the collapse of Hamas' rule in the shortest time and at the lowest cost in soldiers' lives is through a combination of high-intensity fighting and a tight blockade, whose role is to limit the enemy's stamina. Yet humanitarian aid and fuel entering Gaza have significantly increased, which in practice means that they go toward strengthening the enemy. It is advisable to conduct the fighting with high intensity, similar to that which characterized the first stage of the war. This will make it possible to increase the effectiveness of efforts to topple Hamas and boost the chances for the release of the captives. In its absence, the pressure on Hamas will decrease. 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.