US Officials Doubt Israel's Ability to Eradicate Hamas, Reports Suggest

Unachievable Goal?

According to a report by The New York Times, there is a prevalent belief among US officials that the objective of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "eradicate" Hamas in Gaza is unfeasible. Over the past seven months, there have been numerous indications that the US doubts Israel's ability to realize its aims in Gaza. Despite this, the Biden administration has continued to endorse the ongoing conflict in the Strip.

Annual Threat Assessment

In their annual "threat assessment" released in March, US intelligence agencies suggested that Israel would face "lingering armed resistance" for the foreseeable future. They also indicated that the Israeli military would have difficulty in destroying Hamas’s underground infrastructure.

Unclear Objectives

A report by The Washington Post in March echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the US had doubts about Israel's clear or attainable goals as far back as October. A source familiar with an October 27 Biden administration meeting on the situation in Gaza told the Post, "We never had a clear sense that the Israelis had a definable and achievable military objective."

Differing Messages

The Times report highlighted the difference in messaging between the administration and Netanyahu during Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Israel. While Blinken stated that the US was still against Israel invading Rafah without a clear plan for civilians, Netanyahu insisted that an invasion would occur regardless.

Hostage Deal and Temporary Ceasefire

Blinken also urged Hamas to accept Israel’s latest proposal for a hostage deal and temporary ceasefire, but Netanyahu indicated that he wasn’t interested. The Israeli leader pledged to invade Rafah "with or without" a deal with Hamas.

US Officials "Taken Aback"

The Times report stated that US officials were surprised by the timing of Netanyahu’s comment. They believe that Hamas would only agree to a deal if they thought releasing hostages could lead to a permanent ceasefire, which has been the Palestinian group’s demand for months. Netanyahu also informed Blinken that he wouldn’t agree to cease military operations in Gaza in exchange for a hostage deal.

Continued US Support

Despite the disparity in public messaging, there is no evidence that the Biden administration is exerting any significant pressure on Netanyahu to prevent an invasion of Rafah as US military aid continues to be provided. According to the latest figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry, the US-backed Israeli conflict has reportedly resulted in the death of 34,596 people, including over 14,000 children.

Final Thoughts

These reports raise questions about the effectiveness of military action and the potential for peaceful resolutions. What are your thoughts on this complex issue? Do you agree with the US officials' belief that Israel can't eradicate Hamas? Share this article with your friends and let's get a conversation started. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.