‘Not certain the conquest of Gaza City will cause Hamas to budge’: Israeli military tells parliament

The Israeli military has told the parliament that the occupation of Gaza City does not bring any assurance that Hamas would budge from its position and accept Israel’s terms, according to a report.

The development has come at a time when international condemnation as well as domestic opposition to the Israeli offensive to occupy the Gaza City, which has been spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is rising by the day. While the international community is outraged at the devastation that such an offensive would bring and worsen the humanitarian crisis, families of Israeli hostages are concerned that the bombardment could endanger their lives.

The Kan broadcaster has reported that an Israeli military representative told the parliamentary foreign affairs and defense committee on Monday that it is not certain that the occupation of Gaza City will cause Hamas to budge.

The Israeli military representative said this in response to a question by a question from Amit Halevi, the member of parliament from Netanyahu’s Likud party.

“Why would the occupation of Gaza City cause Hamas to budge at all? I did not say it would move Hamas. It is not certain at all. The city has symbolic significance,” said the Israeli military representative.

There have been reports that the Israeli military is not supportive of Netanyahu’s offensive. Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the Israeli military chief, is reportedly opposed to the offensive and has been advising him to accept the deal on the table to end the war. However, Netanyahu has rejected all advise against the offensive and has pitched it as the ultimate way to defeat Hamas and win the war.

“Given Hamas’ refusal to lay down its arms, Israel has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas. Dismantling the two remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the central camps — this is the best way to end the war,” said Netanyahu last month.

The Israeli military representative told the committee that around 800,000 Palestinians live in Gaza City.

The Israeli bombardment of Gaza has turned nearly the entire enclave into rubble and has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians — most of whom are civilians as per Israel’s own previous admissions. There is an acute shortage of food, water, and other essentials in Gaza as a result of Israel’s policy of restricting the flow of aid. The United Nations (UN)-backed group that monitors global hunger has declared a famine in Gaza.

In recent months, dozens of people have died from hunger and hundreds more have been killed in attacks at food distribution sites. While Palestinians have blamed these attacks on Israel, Israel has denied these attacks. In July, the UN published a video that showed Israeli soldiers firing at Palestinians waiting for a UN food convoy.