Israeli Reserve General Giora Eiland stated that Hamas’ announcement to suspend negotiations on prisoner exchanges clearly reflects the real balance of power in the conflict. He described Israel’s war on Gaza as a “total failure”, rather than the “absolute victory” that some claim.
In an article published on Ynet, Eiland explained that there are two ways to assess the outcome of a war: The first method involves evaluating the achievement of declared objectives, while the second examines a party’s ability to impose its will on its adversary.
According to the first method, Israel failed to achieve three and a half out of its four main objectives:
- The Israeli army did not destroy Hamas’ military capabilities.
- The government of Hamas in Gaza was not overthrown.
- Israel failed to ensure the safe return of residents to settlements near Gaza.
- As for recovering hostages, this objective was only partially achieved.
On the other hand, Hamas successfully achieved all of its objectives, the most significant being maintaining its control over Gaza.
Regarding the second method of evaluating wars, which involves forcing the enemy to surrender or imposing strict conditions, Eiland confirmed that Israel failed to impose its will on Hamas.
Israel Misunderstood the Nature of the Conflict
The Israeli general believes that one of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s greatest mistakes was a fundamental misjudgment of the nature of the war. He added that comparing Hamas to ISIS was a major strategic blunder that destroyed any chance of victory.
Eiland explained that since 2007, Gaza has become a de facto state, and that Hamas, much like Nazi Germany under Hitler, succeeded in unifying its population behind its leadership and mobilizing all available resources to achieve its goals.
He stated:
“What happened on October 7 was not just a terrorist attack, but a declaration of war by the State of Gaza against Israel. Yet, instead of adopting a strategy that reflects this reality, Israel provided its enemy with everything it needed: food, water, tents, medicine, and even fuel—helping Hamas withstand the war.”
Eiland also criticized Israel’s insistence on labeling Hamas as merely a “terrorist organization,” emphasizing that this concept belongs to the 20th century, while Hamas has evolved into a sophisticated political and military entity with state-like capabilities.
He concluded by condemning Israel’s war strategy, asserting that it contradicts the principle: “He who is merciful to the cruel will end up being cruel to the merciful.” He argued that this is exactly what happened, as Israel failed to impose its conditions despite its superior military capabilities.
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