The head of the Pentagon warned Israel about the risk of strategic defeat in Gaza
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has warned Israel of a possible strategic defeat in Gaza if the IDF does not protect civilians in the Gaza Strip during the Hamas war. According to the head of the Pentagon, civilians can join the ranks of Hamas if the Israeli army does not protect them. Austin made this prediction based on his experience of fighting during the Iraq War.
Israel's tactical victory in the war against the radical Palestinian group Hamas could result in a strategic defeat if the IDF does not work to protect Palestinian civilians during the operation in the Gaza Strip. This opinion was expressed by the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, during his speech at the Reagan Forum on National Defense in California.
The corresponding outcome, he said, could be conceded if the civilian population of the Gaza Strip defected to Hamas - "into the arms of the enemy."
In his opinion, Israel should create humanitarian corridors and ensure the safety of civilians.
Urban battles
The US Secretary of Defense made such a statement based on his experience of similar battles during the Iraq War, when he led the campaign against the Islamic State (the organization is banned in Russia).
As Austin noted, Israel is fighting urban battles with an enemy that manages to hold its own in one of the most densely populated areas of the world. He stressed that victory in this case is possible only if humanitarian corridors are created and civilians are protected.
According to the Pentagon chief, he has repeatedly told Israeli leaders that protecting the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip is "both a moral responsibility and a strategic imperative." Washington also calls for the prevention of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. At the same time, the minister said that the United States will remain a close friend of Israel, and their support is "non-negotiable."
The situation in the Gaza Strip
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed similar concerns a month ago. On November 3, he warned that, despite the need for the physical destruction of Hamas, it is important to make efforts so that the movement does not gain even more supporters due to indiscriminate strikes by the Israeli army. According to him, this can be achieved by offering the Palestinians a better future.
The New York Times reported on November 3 that in the first weeks of the war, Israel attacked the territory of Gaza mainly with heavy aerial bombs (450-900 kg) designed to destroy defensive fortifications, and not for use in urban development. On November 5, Washington called on the IDF to collect more intelligence, minimizing the number of casualties. The United States sent smaller precision bombs to Israel on November 7.
On the morning of December 1, the IDF announced the end of the seven-day truce and resumed hostilities against Hamas, accusing the movement of violating the terms of the ceasefire. The IDF said that Hamas "violated the operational pause" and launched a rocket towards the Israeli city of Sderot.
During the humanitarian pause, the radicals freed 78 Israeli women and children, as well as 30 hostages from other countries. Israel has released 240 Palestinians from its prisons, mostly women and children. Initially, it was planned to exchange 50 Israeli hostages for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
The day before, US Vice President Kamala Harris, following a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, said that the United States opposes Israel's call for Gazans to leave the region. She expressed the position of the United States, according to which the only way to solve the problem is to create a full-fledged Palestinian state and transfer the Gaza Strip under its control with the condition of international support.
Anastasia Novikova
