Moscow. December 7. INTERFAX - Military operations in the Middle East have resumed after a short respite. This means that they will move to the southern part of the sector. But it was there that the population was sent from the northern part so that they would escape the bombing. What to expect now?
On this topic, our special correspondent Vyacheslav Terekhov talks with Deputy Director of the Institute of the USA and Canada, Head of military and political Studies of the Institute, Reserve Major General Pavel Zolotarev.
The hostages are in the foreground!
Reporter: What is the situation in Gaza now?
Zolotarev: As far as I understand, Israel, in the dilemma facing it - hostages or the destruction of Hamas as a terrorist organization - puts the problem of hostages at the forefront. This is not new to him. There have already been such scenarios when Hamas took hostages. So Israel has the experience of liberating people. Then, as a result of decisive Israeli actions, the hostages were released, but Hamas as an organization remained. After all, Israel puts the task of preserving people in the first place, and they can be understood in this regard.
But now the world community has intervened in this problem, and not on the side of Israel. I remind you that, in the end, Hamas as an organization remained earlier during the release of the hostages. Now Israel is aiming to destroy it.
The truce was used by Hamas to regroup.
Correspondent: Recently there was a break in military operations for several days. Opponents usually use this break to regroup.
Zolotarev: The short-term pause that took place in the fighting has already affected the course of the operation, certainly delaying it.
Naturally, Hamas regrouped over these days and immediately began shelling Israel. Thus, his leadership has made its position very clear: they are not going to give up.
It is clear that when the militants were driven out of the north of the Gaza Strip, some of them moved to the south. Therefore, when Israel sets the task of destroying Hamas, then naturally, it will not be possible to limit military actions only in the northern part. Actions will move to some extent to the south. Of course, you can't get away from bombing either, because when rocket launchers are equipped inside a building, when they are actually built into houses, it is impossible to destroy them unless this building is razed to the ground. But of course, at the same time, it is necessary for people to leave there.
Correspondent: But there was no warning of the enemy about the shelling in any war!
Zolotarev: But still, the mood of the world community is leaning towards anti-Israel, and this certainly constrains Israel.
The South is in the background!
Corr.: There are much fewer buildings in the southern part of Gaza. Does this mean that the Israeli army will have to conduct a completely ground operation?
Zolotarev: Of course, there will be no such operations in the south as in the north. Therefore, it seems to me that the south is now in the background for Israel: the northern part of Gaza remains in the first place. As for relations with the southern part of Israel, it is likely that the international community will consider this issue: the main thing is what to do with those who remained in the south.
Although, of course, the main efforts will still be aimed at the north. The main part of these tunnels is located there, and hidden missile launch centers are located there. I think that in the north of Gaza, Israel will continue its decisive actions. In particular, they outlined the flooding of the tunnels.
It is difficult to flood all the tunnels, but there is the experience of Egypt
Correspondent: How can the tunnels be flooded? Firstly, there may be hostages there, and in general, technically, how can this be done?
Zolotarev: Technically, this is more or less worked out, we can even say that this is a past stage. Although Egypt did it mostly. Egypt flooded, however, tunnels that were intended for crossing the border and for smuggling. They were, of course, technically quite different. It is clear that if Egypt flooded the tunnels, it means that they were in the south of Gaza, but, I repeat, their purpose was completely different – to stop the transportation of contraband goods across the border. From a technical point of view, they were, of course, completely different.
Reporter: But when Egypt flooded the tunnels, I don't remember such a scandal as now.
Zolotarev: Yes, there was no such scandal as now.
Corr.: Let's go back to Israel. Egypt had the capacity to flood the tunnels. Did he hand them over to Israel?
Zolotarev: No, Israel itself has the appropriate equipment with which a large amount of seawater can be pumped there. Another thing is that this will not destroy the tunnels: the water will leave there, and they will remain. Now this is being done in order to oust the Hamas from them. They will probably leave with the hostages. But at least Israel will take most of this underground space out of a state of readiness for use.
So far, a significant part of the tunnels is controlled by Hamas. This is evidenced by the launching of missiles at Israel.
Reporter: So the Israeli army has not yet been able to oust the Hamas military units from the northern tunnels?
Zolotarev: Of course not. The tunnels are made quite competently. Certain areas of them are probably blocked by sealed doors, so it will be difficult to flood the entire space. So anyway, with the availability of equipment, this is also a difficult task.
The fate of southern Gaza and the people there will be decided at the next stage
Corr.: How do you think events will develop further?
Zolotarev: But if we talk in general about this part of Palestine, meaning the Gaza Strip, then it is difficult to say how further events will take place. Perhaps everything will become clear at the next stage, when together with the international community they will look for solutions on how to proceed with this region and how to manage it further. Maybe the problem of Gaza will be postponed to the next stage, and then they will decide what to do with those people who have accumulated in the south.
And yet, as for the southern part of the sector, Israel will still solve this problem, perhaps because of the hostage problem later, but it will solve it anyway.
