How does this end? With Hamas holding firm and fighting back in Gaza, Israel faces only bad options

AP ^ | May 23, 2024 | JOSEPH KRAUSS

[MinorityRepublican]

Diminished but not deterred, Hamas is still putting up a fight after seven brutal months of war with Israel, regrouping in some of the hardest-hit areas in northern Gaza and resuming rocket attacks into nearby Israeli communities.

Israel initially made tactical advances against Hamas after a devastating aerial bombardment paved the way for its ground troops. But those early gains have given way to a grinding struggle against an adaptable insurgency — and a growing feeling among many Israelis that their military faces only bad options, drawing comparisons with U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They supported Israel’s retaliation for Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, including one of the heaviest bombing campaigns in recent history, ground operations that obliterated entire neighborhoods and border restrictions that the U.N.'s World Food Program says pushed parts of the territory into famine.

But now the two retired generals fear a prolonged, costly re-occupation of Gaza, from which Israel withdrew soldiers and settlers in 2005. They are also opposed to a withdrawal that would leave Hamas in control or lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Instead, they have put forth alternatives that many Israelis see as wildly unrealistic. Hamas, meanwhile, has proposed its own postwar plan.

[BipolarBob]

Zech. 12:3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.

[MAAG]

We eliminate are current government🤔

[KamperKen]

Wishful thinking by AP based on the headline.

[davidb56]

eliminate ALL of them.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

And Reichskanzler Gobbels announced that as soon as the new Wunderwaffe are produced in sufficient numbers the invaders will be thrown out of Germany!

[Cinnamontea]

"Holding firm" and "fighting back." Gee, that's not biased language or anything. Nah.

[SaveFerris]

🔝🔝🔝

[HIDEK6]

AYPEE acts like this is some kind of contest instead of a case of Israel responding to a cowardly attack.

[MinorityRepublican]

Bibi is not going to last long. The next Israeli PM will declare victory. Then the IDF will leave Gaza. Hamas will rebuild and attack Israel again.

[SamuraiScot]

that many Israelis see as wildly unrealistic. . .

I see. The AP's Arab stringers in Gaza are speaking for the Jewish state they hope will be destroyed.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Scorched earth works every time. Give Gaza the Carthage treatment.

[Rockingham]

Wars are fought in order to avoid worse outcomes. The Israeli Defense Forces are highly capable and Israel is determined to end Hamas as an organized force. As much as Israel is politically divided, they are united on national security policy. Israel has the advantage and will press on to a decisive outcome. Some of the Hamas rats will escape, but the organization will be discredited by doing so and for the devastation they have caused in Gaza.

[frank ballenger]

Hamas and the PLO are problems for Israel.

Like James Bond it is better to be a problem eliminator than a problem solver.

[MinorityRepublican]

The Russians did that in Chechnya. Then appointed Ramzan Kadyrov as the warlord in Chechnya so he can rule over the province with an iron fist.

The West is no longer capable of total war. The last time the Americans fought an actual war was WWII.

[MinorityRepublican]

Israel has the advantage and will press on to a decisive outcome.

Won't happen in this war.

They'll try to mop up operations soon. Bibi will lose power. Then it's back to business for Israel. Their economy is formidable. The war is bad for their economy.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

Israel need to adapt the Russian strategy or call it quits and have all Jews leave Israel. If Israel won’t defend the Jews they will come and murder again and again

[Huskrrrr]

Finish the job. This will teach Hezbellah a valuable lesson.

[faithhopecharity]

The IDF will finish rooting the terrorists out.

[roving]

Biden is hoping Israel back from completing the job.