The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth suggested, in a report published Thursday, December 21, 2021, that Tel Aviv will reduce its aggression against the Gaza Strip soon, noting that the city of Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip may be the last stop in what the occupation army calls The "difficult phase" of the war, after which the army will move to a narrower scope of its operations.

In the same report, the Arab newspaper considered that the Prime Minister's "resonant" statements regarding the war, in which he insists on continuing it "until victory," hide another "bitter reality" that makes it likely that the operation will be reduced as soon as possible.

Between Netanyahu's words and reality

The Israeli Prime Minister said on Wednesday, December 20: “We will continue the war until the end,” and “the war will continue until Hamas is eliminated, and until victory.” Perhaps this is true from a historical perspective, as the war between Israel and the resistance organizations may last for years, and perhaps even for generations.

However, the perception of things is different among Israeli families whose loved ones were detained in Gaza, among wives who said goodbye to their husbands after they were called to the army on October 7 and have not yet returned, among fathers whose sons or daughters are fighting in the field, and among those whose lives were turned upside down by war.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth says that resonant statements - such as Netanyahu's statement about the continuation of the war - must be treated with caution. Because talking about future wars is intended to cover up the gloom of the present reality. Therefore, the newspaper believes that the battles in Khan Yunis will be the last stop in what the occupation army calls the “difficult phase” of the war.

"Final arrangements" in Gaza

Likewise, the Israeli newspaper considered that the news published in the past two days about the Israeli army expanding its ground operations in Gaza shows two things: First, the occupation army has not yet been able to “cleanse” the northern gates of the Gaza Strip, and resistance fighters are still sometimes emerging from buildings, barriers and tunnels. Secondly, the occupation army senses that the end of the war is imminent, and therefore it is trying to achieve more achievements before declaring a ceasefire.

Hence, Yedioth Ahronoth claims that Gaza is witnessing these days what could be called the final arrangements for the military operation in Gaza, and the purpose of these arrangements is to facilitate the presence of the Israeli army in the Strip during the next stage.

The newspaper expected that this stage of final arrangements would be completed in the first half of January. It is likely that a large portion of the Israeli reserve soldiers will then return to their homes. The occupation army should work to establish a security strip - one kilometer wide - separating the Strip from the surrounding settlements.

Israeli disappointment

The Israeli newspaper says that the truce contains some bitterness for the Israelis, because the war did not achieve the goals that were set for it.

It also pointed out that the goals set by the Israeli political system for the army were far-fetched, and that it was clear to everyone from day one that annihilation, crushing, and destruction were nothing but hoped-for wishes whose authors were influenced by the severity of the blow that Israel received on October 7.

The Hebrew newspaper stressed that wishes should not be treated as military plans, nor as strategic plans.

It considered that exaggerating expectations would lead to disappointment afterwards, and that calming the war would be more painful for the fighting forces than for others, as well as among the extreme right-wing elements who were looking forward to a multi-front war that would lead to the deportation of millions of Palestinians and the return of settlement in the Gaza Strip.

Source: Arabic Post