ALBAWABA - Former Israeli general Yitzhak Brick, currently serving in reserve forces, has raised concerns about the direction of Israel's military actions in Gaza. Brick expressed that the conflict's objectives, such as eliminating Hamas and freeing prisoners, are drifting further away, asserting that Israel is getting stuck in the mud in Gaza.
In an op-ed for the Israeli Maariv newspaper, Brick highlighted the need for a reassessment of the action plan in ongoing conflicts. He admitted that the current goals set by the military are not realistically achievable and emphasized the necessity of reevaluating the course of the war.
Brick acknowledged that the original plan, including entering the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, had proven unattainable due to the challenges posed by Hamas's control and the dense population, particularly in refugee camps. He mentioned the difficulty of targeting Hamas without impacting civilians in the crowded environment.
The former general pointed out the failure to neutralize Hamas in Rafah and seize crucial tunnels serving as a conduit for weapons from Sinai to Gaza. Brick emphasized the significance of these tunnels and criticized the military for not achieving the fundamental mission of the war.
Discussing the situation in Rafah and the central areas of Gaza, Brick stated that the current state of warfare was not contributing to achieving the war's objectives. Instead, he noted that Israel was facing daily heavy losses due to explosives, traps, and anti-tank missiles.
Brick advocated for a reevaluation of the war strategy, suggesting a shift away from densely populated areas, targeted airstrikes based on accurate intelligence, and a change in the approach to controlling the region with fewer casualties. He expressed that while the complete elimination of Hamas might not be achievable, Israel could continue to control the region with fewer losses and prevent Hamas from regrouping.
According to Brick, it is crucial for the Israeli military to implement the plan for the third stage of the war promptly, emphasizing the need to wake up from what he referred to as a "fruitless nightmare.
