Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has outlined Israel’s plans for the next phase of its assault on the besieged Gaza Strip and future scenarios for the day after the war ends.
“In the northern region of the Gaza strip, we will transition to a new combat approach in accordance with military achievements on the ground,” Gallant’s office said in a statement it said outlined the guiding principles reflecting Gallant’s vision for the next phases of the war on Thursday.
He said operations would include raids, demolishing tunnels, air and ground strikes, and special forces operations.
In the south of the besieged enclave – where most of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is now living, many in tents and other temporary shelters – the operation would continue to try to eliminate Hamas leaders and rescue Israeli hostages.
"It will continue for as long as is deemed necessary,” the statement said.
Sure, Isreal does technically have the capability to completely destroy Palestine in one quick operation, for instance, it could just use some of its almost certain to exist nuclear weapons on the relatively small area of Gaza. However, consider for a moment what the actual consequences of that or a similarly destructive action would be: Isreal may be powerful in its region, but it is not a global superpower after all. It receives considerable support from other countries, particularly the US and much of the EU, and losing that support, or even worse, managing to actually draw their anger, would put them in a dangerously vulnerable position with a fairly small population and land area and enemies on all sides. As it stands, their current actions have made supporting them somewhat divisive and politically charged in the west, but havent broadly lost them support, but doing something that blatantly indefensible might just be enough to do that. Further, the current Isreali government from my understanding doesnt have a perfect grip on popular support and power, and doing something that heinous might risk losing them domestic support as well.