Majority of Israeli setters doubt ‘total victory over Hamas’: Poll

An opinion poll conducted by the Israeli Channel 12 revealed that 51% of Israeli settlers believe that achieving a “total victory” against Hamas, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed, is unattainable.

According to the poll, Israelis viewed the performance of Netanyahu, along with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Security Minister Yoav Gallant, during the war as weak. Additionally, 56% of respondents preferred that the next ruling coalition not include extremist right-wing parties.

In the same context, a survey conducted by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) indicated a significant decline in Israelis’ perception of the “achievements of the army” in its war on Gaza, with doubts arising about the objective of the war, approximately eight months after it began.

The survey, conducted in May, revealed that only 34% of the Israeli public are satisfied with what was termed the “achievements of the army,” marking a significant decrease compared to November last year when the percentage was over 52%.

Furthermore, the survey indicated a decrease in Israelis’ perception of “victory,” as 61% of participants now believe that the Israeli army “will prevail” in Gaza, compared to 92% in October 2023.

‘Israel’ hasn’t come close to ‘destroying Hamas’: US official to CBS

“Israel” hasn’t come close to achieving its goal of eliminating Hamas from the Gaza Strip, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing a US official.

“The Israelis haven’t come close to achieving their objective of destroying Hamas,” the official indicated, especially as hundreds of Palestinian fighters continue fighting and miles of tunnels remain intact and unexplored.

Meanwhile, the Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya al-Sinwar, is still at large.

The American official considered that “Israel’s” lack of a post-Gaza war plan makes the current strategy “a recipe for continuous war.”

Still, Netanyahu insists on “the destruction of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities” as part of “Israel’s” conditions for ending the war on Gaza.

The US official’s remarks echo those of the spokesperson of the Israeli military, Daniel Hagari, who acknowledged that the goal of “eradicating Hamas” is unattainable.

“This business of destroying Hamas, making Hamas disappear — it’s simply throwing sand in the eyes of the public,” Hagari told the Israeli Channel 13.

He stressed that “Hamas is an idea, Hamas is a party. It’s rooted in the hearts of the people — anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong.”

The spokesperson warned that if the Israeli government “doesn’t find an alternative — [Hamas] will remain” in Gaza.

This is apparent, as military sources told the Israeli Channel 12 in mid-June that Hamas continues to engage in war within the Gaza Strip, and is still capable of inflicting heavy losses on Israeli soldiers.

The sources mentioned that the Israeli army is struggling to eliminate Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, and may end the military operation without achieving its objectives.

Similarly, Ohad Hemo, a Palestinian affairs commentator for the Israeli Channel 12, said that Hamas has successfully rebuilt its presence in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that Israeli expectations regarding the invasion of Rafah and the ground operation there are misleading the public.

Earlier this month, the leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party, Avigdor Lieberman, stressed that after eight months of war, “we [“Israel”] have garnered total shame instead of total victory.”

Liberman pointed out that after eight months of war, the Israeli government has failed to eliminate Hamas and retrieve the captives from Gaza.