The spokesperson for the Israeli occupation army described Gaza on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, as “one of the toughest battlefields in the world,” noting that the military operation in Rafah “does not ensure the cessation of Palestinian attacks.”
This came during statements made by the Israeli military official at a conference organized by the Israeli newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth.”
The military spokesperson clarified that “the main challenge facing the army is the confidence of the Israeli public,” adding that “what happened on October 7 last year forces us to be more flexible and to know how to accept criticism, and after the failure, we bear responsibility.”
He also added that “the one leading the war is the Chief of Staff, who bears the responsibility, and we also understand the consequences of this responsibility.”
Gaza: one of the toughest battlefields
Regarding the war on Gaza, Haggari added: “We planned for a war that would last for about a year, perhaps Gaza is one of the toughest battlefields in the world in terms of fighting, density, and the tunnels dug by Hamas underground.”
In addition, the spokesperson pointed out that “on a political level, we agreed on an operational plan for the war, we saw that we would first deal with Hamas’s main strongholds, which are in the northern Gaza Strip and Khan Yunis.”
According to Israeli statistics, 614 Israeli officers and soldiers have been killed, and more than 3,362 have been injured since the war on Gaza erupted, while Palestinian resistance says that the occupation army is hiding the true number of its dead.
The Israeli spokesperson also acknowledged that Hamas is attempting to regroup in northern Gaza, threatening to resume operations there.
Palestinian reports indicate that Hamas’s emergency committees are active in areas from which the Israeli army recently withdrew and targeted some of its elements.
Rafah operation does not ensure the cessation of Palestinian attacks
Regarding the delay in the Rafah operation, Haggari explained that the Israeli army did not enter the city for three or four months “because there were no operational conditions for that.”
However, he emphasized that the military operation in Rafah does not ensure the cessation of Palestinian attacks, adding: “We will deal with the city in the way we see fit.”
On Tuesday, the Israeli occupation army stormed the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and asked Palestinians in eastern areas to evacuate their homes amid intense aerial and artillery bombardment witnessed in Rafah in recent days.
American aid to Israel
The Israeli spokesperson also addressed reports of Washington’s delay in delivering some shipments of weapons to Israel, saying, “American aid to us is unprecedented, and operational partnership is important.”
He also admitted to having differences with Washington but played them down, adding, “There are differences, but they are resolved behind closed doors, and we are responsible for Israel’s security interests and care about the interests of the United States.”
With American support, the occupation state continues its war on Gaza, which has left around 113,000 dead and wounded, mostly children and women, and around 10,000 missing amid massive destruction and famine that have claimed the lives of children and the elderly.
