The New York Times said that Israel's failure to achieve its main goals, more than 100 days after the invasion of Gaza, raises growing frustration among its military leaders and leads some of them to believe that the recovery of detainees in the Strip is possible only through diplomatic, not military, means.

The newspaper published a lengthy report that included a summary of secret plans for military operations and testimonies from military commanders and Israeli political officials about the course of the war.

The New York Times indicated that in light of the limited progress made by Israel with regard to dismantling the structure of the Hamas movement in Gaza, doubts are growing among the senior military leadership about the possibility of achieving the two main goals of the war; They are to eliminate Hamas and recover more than 100 prisoners still being held in Gaza, the most valuable of whom are believed to be held by the movement.

The newspaper explained that the Israeli army imposed its control in Gaza on a smaller portion than it had envisioned in its battle plans since the beginning of the war.

It said that Israeli plans included controlling the cities of Gaza, Khan Yunis, and Rafah by late December, which was not achieved.

It added that the pace of progress of the military campaign, which was slower than expected, prompted a number of Israeli military leaders to express their frustration with the political leadership’s strategy regarding Gaza, and this also led them to believe that the recovery of the remaining detainees in the Strip would only be possible through diplomacy rather than military means.

The American newspaper quoted Israeli military leaders as saying that recovering prisoners and destroying the Hamas movement have now become incompatible goals.

It also reported statements made Thursday by Israeli War Council member Gadi Eisenkot, in which he acknowledged that the goals of the war would not be achieved, and that the detainees could not be recovered through military means.

It pointed out that Israeli military leaders believed before the war that the network of tunnels built by Hamas extended 100 miles (160 km), but they now estimate that it may extend 450 miles (725 km).

Strategic dilemma

The New York Times quoted Israeli officials as saying that the strategic impasse exacerbated the army's frustration over the hesitation of the political leadership.

These officials said that the long battle to destroy Hamas would likely cost the lives of those detained in Gaza.

The Israeli military expressed to the newspaper their fear that the length of the military campaign without a post-war plan would lead to the erosion of allied support.

The New York Times indicated that by mid-January, Israeli forces had not begun to advance towards the city of Rafah, nor had they yet been able to expel Hamas fighters from Khan Yunis, knowing that both cities are located in the south of the Gaza Strip.

It also indicated the return of Hamas fighters to the northern Gaza Strip in recent days after the Israeli army said that it imposed control over the area and withdrew half of its forces that were deployed, estimated at about 50,000 soldiers.

Commenting on the New York Times report, he told an Israeli army spokesman that the statements reported by the newspaper from military officials do not express the army’s position.