Two plans in Israel to end the war include a specific attack on Rafah
Israeli officials have begun developing a plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip that would set a timetable acceptable to both Tel Aviv and Washington. and the Prisoner Transfer Agreement.
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that decision-makers in Israel are developing a strategic plan to end the war, and that among members of the limited government (the War Council), at least two plans have been drawn up. To ensure the achievement of all or the absolute majority of the war's goals. The first was the plan of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ambassador to the United States, Minister of Strategic Affairs and member of the War Council, and Ron Dermer. , and the plan of two ministers on the Second War Council, former chiefs of staff Benny Kantz and Kady Eisenkot.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, there are no major differences between the two plans except for the timetables, and Kants and Eisenkot are willing to express their position in principle and discuss it in the cabinet, while Netanyahu fears his reaction. coalition partners, so he's not even willing to discuss his plan in the future. Government is limited, and he's content to negotiate in secret with senior officials in the Joe Biden administration through Dermer.
The strategic plan proposed by Gantz and Eisenkot is to achieve “victory” in phases, with Israel agreeing to long-term struggle for the purpose of the hostage agreement, and then resuming it in order to continue to erode Hamas' military and governmental capabilities. .
Gantz and Eisenkot say: “Yes” to the treaty, but “No” to the demand to end the war once and for all.
Among other things, the Gantz and Eisenkot plan aims to secure and enhance the US government's military and political support, and they believe that Israel's declaration of a long ceasefire will significantly reduce domestic fighting for the purpose of implementing the hostage agreement. and external pressure on President Biden, and he can remarkably claim to have succeeded in stopping hostilities.
According to Gantz and Eisenkot's plan, during the long pause in Gaza, with the war ending by June, the army will be actively preparing to resume fighting, train, resupply its forces, and improve combat methods and plans. It's President's Day in November, five months before the election.
Establishing civilian rule in Gaza, maintaining security control there, and promoting Arab normalization is, in their view, the closest thing to “victory” since the horrors of October 7. As for Netanyahu, he wants “total victory” within a short period of time.
Yedioth Ahronoth said Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant hope to achieve a complete military defeat of Hamas by capturing Rafah before or during Ramadan, removing the movement's leader Yahya Shinwar and the organization's leadership in Gaza.
Netanyahu and Gallant hope that entering Rafah, while it will not immediately lead to Shinwar's dissolution, will soften the position of the Hamas leadership and allow for a “reasonable” deal to release the hostages. This will enable Israel to make decisions from a strong position about the next day, including the Philadelphia axis with Egypt and Lebanon in the north.
Netanyahu is pressuring Chief of Staff Herzey Halevi to complete the elimination of Hamas in Khan Yunis and begin the capture of Rafah. But Netanyahu's problem is that Halevy needs more time to finish the job at Khan Yunis, and a few more weeks to implement a plan to oust Rafa before the attack.
According to Netanyahu's plan, the fighting will end in April after Ramadan, and then a fourth phase will move to security control of the Gaza Strip.
Israel's plans to end the war emerged as Israel deepened its offensive in Khan Yunis (south of the Gaza Strip), which has seen more than 70 days of heavy fighting.
Israel has bombed large areas of Khan Yunis and blown up a residential square in the center of the city, and on Tuesday it surrounded Nasser Hospital and demanded its evacuation.
Forces of the 98th Division established their operational control west of Khan Yunis, killing Hamas fighters, attacking infrastructure, ambushing snipers and patrols, and destroying warehouses to store combat equipment, while fighters from the 646th Brigade, an Israeli army spokesman said. (Paratroopers Reserve) engaged in heavy fighting in Abasan area of Khan Yunis, killed militants, attacked numerous infrastructures and discovered an underground route. They recovered weapons, mobile phones, grenades, ammunition clips, military uniforms and combat manuals.
In contrast, the “al-Qassam Brigades”, affiliated with the “Hamas Movement”, said its fighters clashed with a Zionist infantry unit of 7 soldiers from zero range in the Abasan al-Kabeera area, east of the city. Khan Yunis killed and wounded them. They also managed to detonate an individual anti-personnel device. “A Zionist force of 5 soldiers defended themselves inside a house in Abasan al-Kabeera area.
Israeli army admits 3 killed in Abasan blast
During the operation by the militants, a bomb exploded in an explosive-laden building and the explosion killed “630 Battalion,” Lt. Col. (Reserve) Nathaniel Algobi and the acting commander of one of the “630 Battalion” companies, Major (Reserve) Yair Cohen, and a reserve fighter, Asst. (Reserve) Jiv Chen was from the 630th Battalion, while other fighters were injured.
Since the beginning of last December, Israel has focused on the Khan Younis fight, the leaders of the last October 7 attack, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya al-Sinwar, his brother Muhammad, the commander. Khan Yunis' legion, and al-Qassam's general commander Muhammad al-Deef and his deputy Marwan Isa.
Israel must end the Khan Younis war before attacking the border town of Rafah, Hamas's last stronghold.
Despite all international warnings and calls for an end to the offensive, Israeli leaders confirmed that they continue to attack the densely populated Rafah, home to one and a half million Palestinians. the blood
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said on Tuesday of Israel's determination to attack Rafah, “What we all need is how to protect civilians, provide safe routes for them to leave and guarantee that the routes remain safe.” Don't be attacked.”
