Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is the more radical voice within the Israeli government,” said Professor Patrycja Sasnal, a PISM expert from the University of California in Los Angeles, in “Fakty po Faktach”, commenting on the attitude of the Israeli prime minister during the war with Hamas. – They have been liquidating Hamas since 2010 and they cannot liquidate it. The release of the hostages is probably a goal that seems possible, said General Mieczysław Bieniek, former NATO deputy commander for transformation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the goal of the war against the Palestinian Hamas is to “defeat the murderous enemy and ensure our existence on our land.” The Israel Defense Forces has urged Gazans to temporarily relocate to the south. Saudi Arabia condemns Israel’s actions.
Sasnal: Netanyahu wants to redeem himself
Professor Patrycja Sasnal, a PISM expert from the University of California in Los Angeles, stated in “Facts after Facts” that Prime Minister Netanyahu “is certainly motivated by two things.” – First of all, atonement for his sins, because it is his fault for what happened on October 7 – she said.
– And if there’s anything he can do to avoid completely collapsing after this action, the military operation that’s going on now, he has a chance to do it now. This means acting in such a way that he suddenly shows himself to the Israelis as not the one who caused this tragedy. So he has personal motivations that probably push him to take more radical action. And he is the more radical voice within the Israeli government, she continued.
Patrycja Sasnal and Mieczysław Bieniek in “Fakty po Faktach”TVN24
– But today he said clearly, and this is also the goal of Israel as a whole of the government, that firstly, it is about the destruction of Hamas, and secondly, it is about the rescue of the hostages. So the first goal is not to rescue the hostages, the first is to destroy Hamas. If they have a choice between destroying Hamas or rescuing the hostages, they will choose to destroy Hamas, she added.
She also assessed that the Israeli “invasion is going very slowly.”
Liquidation of Hamas? Bieniek: this goal will not be achieved
General Mieczysław Bieniek, former NATO deputy commander for transformation, said that Hamas’ goal in this war is “firstly, to show that they are able to threaten Israel, secondly, to draw the world’s attention and reverse the process of trying to normalize Israel’s relations,” among others. incl. with countries in the region, such as Oman, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Referring to the Israeli offensive, he said that the Gaza Strip “is an urbanized area, Gaza City is two million people in three-fifths of Warsaw. – There are not only tunnels there, there are narrow streets, (…) introducing soldiers there, When entering these tunnels and conducting combat operations, one must take into account huge losses both on the part of the attackers and on the part of the defenders, he added.
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The general was asked whether Israel’s mentioned goal of eliminating Hamas is possible to achieve. – This goal will not be achieved. They have been liquidating Hamas since 2010 and they cannot liquidate it. The release of hostages is a goal that seems possible, provided that some of these hostages are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners or prisoners. This is what Israeli society expects, he replied.
Main photo source: EPA/ABIR SULTAN