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Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-814580
CNN's Optical Illusion: The Impact of IDF Gains in Gaza
(Jerusalem Post) Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror - Recently, CNN published an in-depth article on the war in Gaza, claiming that while the IDF dealt a severe blow to Hamas, its military strength remains intact and it is renewing itself. This claim reflects a fundamental misunderstanding. Israel has had a declared strategic goal since the beginning of the war: To eliminate Hamas's military and governing power in Gaza. From conversations with some of the commanders leading the IDF in Gaza, it is clear that they believe they are advancing toward its full implementation. Elimination of military power requires eliminating Hamas fighters, its infrastructure including command and control centers, and its intelligence apparatus; destroying all weapon production facilities and isolating Gaza from Egypt to prevent the smuggling of weapons in the future and to deny Hamas the ability to rearm; and blowing up the tunnels to deny Hamas a hiding place. All these tasks are being carried out in practice, with Hamas unable to stop them. Many Hamas terrorists remain in the field, occasionally harming IDF soldiers and even firing a few rockets at Israel, and they still hold hostages. But no one has asked what Hamas's response from Gaza will be to the elimination of Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh. The reason is that Hamas's military capability has become far less relevant to Israel; every day that passes it loses more of its capabilities. At the end of the process, Gaza should become like Area A in the West Bank, meaning the IDF will enter and operate there whenever there is intelligence on any terrorist organization. This will mark the end of the war in Gaza. Once it concludes, every leader in the region will know that crossing a red line, as Hamas did, will lead to their destruction. The writer was national security adviser to the Israeli prime minister and chairman of Israel's National Security Council.