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Can Israel Defeat Hamas?
The many-headed hydra of extremist terror is as adaptable as it is brutal. But is it intractable?
“The End of Israel’s Gaza Illusions,” opined Assaf Orion for Foreign Affairs on November 3, 2023. “This War Is Unlike Any Other.”
“In the nearly four weeks since Hamas’s heinous October 7 attacks, Israel has begun a deep transformation that will be felt for years to come,” began Orion, echoing a sentiment becoming increasingly common in foreign policy expert circles over the last few weeks since the devastating Hamas attack on Israel.
“As Israeli forces embark on the more difficult stages of a ground campaign to defeat Hamas, two themes have become particularly important,” continued Orion. “First, it is crucial to understand that this is not just another round of conflict in Gaza. To be successful, the country must countenance a war of exceptional scope and difficulty that could last for many months.”
Part of the difficulty involves the high level of entrenchment Hamas terrorists have achieved in Gaza. Defeating Hamas, while sparing as many civilian casualties as possible, is Israel’s stated goal, but it won’t be easy.
Hamas has created a complex of tunnels beneath the West Bank and Gaza. Finding, infiltrating, and destroying the tunnel system is surely a priority for Israel’s defense forces. There has…