The IDF has released a statement saying it is “unaware” of such an assessment by commanders and asserted this did “not reflect the IDF’s position.”
However, four senior commanders spoke to the New York Times anonymously, sharing their concerns about Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
They warned that it is unlikely the 130 hostages still in Gaza will be released through any means other then diplomacy.
A commander also expressed surprise at the size of Hamas’ tunnel network in Gaza.
The New York Times also spoke to Andreas Krieg, of the School of Security Studies at King’s College London, who explained the challenges faced by the IDF.
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He said: “Basically, it’s a stalemate. It’s not an environment where you can free hostages.
“If you go into the tunnels and you try to free them with special forces, or whatever, you will kill them. You either will kill them directly — or indirectly, in booby traps or in a firefight.”
He added that the war is now “unwinnable” for Israel.
The four commanders also expressed frustration at Israel’s lack of plan for how to deal with the situation in Gaza after the war.
Earlier this week, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi warned that the military gains made by Israel could all be lost after the war if the situation is not managed.
According to Channel 13, he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government figures: “We are facing the erosion of gains made thus far in the war because no strategy has been put together for the day after.”
He also reportedly warned that the IDF “may need to go back and operate in areas where we have already concluded the fighting.”
War cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot has also taken aim at Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
He told Channel 12 in Israel that “whoever speaks of absolute defeat [of Hamas in Gaza] and of it no longer having the will or the capability, is not speaking the truth. That is why we should not tell tall tales.”
He continued: “Today, the situation in the Gaza Strip is that the goals of the war have not yet been achieved, but the war is already not happening. There is a reduced troop deployment, a different modus operandi.”
However, Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, remains adamant Israel can achieve its objectives.
He said: “I would like to reiterate, at the end of the war, there will be no military threat from Gaza.
“Hamas will not be able to control and function as a military force in the Gaza Strip, and the IDF will have full freedom of action to do whatever is required to defend the citizens of Israel.
“It may take a long time, but it will end with a single scenario, total victory.”
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