Israel does not really understand Hamas - analyst

Channel 13 Arab affairs analyst Zvi Yehezkeli also warned that Hezbollah represents a threat '1,000 times' worse than Hamas.

  (photo credit: Reuven Castro/Walla)
(photo credit: Reuven Castro/Walla)

Two and a half weeks after the thousands of Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel, resulting in a massacre that claimed the lives of approximately 1,400 people, Israel is stuck before an enemy that does not fully understand, Zvi Yehezkeli, a Channel 13  Arab affairs analyst, said during an interview on 103FM radio.

"We are still waiting for salvation, but nothing has changed,” Yehezkeli said. “Hamas is still operating while we face humiliation from the international community. The release of four hostages means nothing. It begs the question, what does it take to crush Hamas?” 

“We are dealing with an enemy we do not fully understand, and the repercussions of the Gaza situation will extend far beyond its borders into Judea and Samaria,” he added. The Palestinian existence has been shaken. After 75 years of their Nakba, they have realized that the tables can be turned."

According to Yehezkeli, the most pressing question is what Israel should do now.

"The tactical debate of whether to enter or not needs to be reevaluated,” he said. “I see Hamas functioning, and those responsible for the failures of the past 15 years are still in leadership positions. Instead, we should be asking the residents of Gaza what they want. The strip needs to be completely flattened, and Hamas must be eradicated.” 

According to Yehezkeli, the army is not equipped to comprehend the Palestinians. 

“We have been in a state of complacency,” he said, adding that the outcome of Israel’s action depends on the ability of Israel to fully understand the situation.

The role of Iran

Concerning the escalating tensions with Hezbollah, Yehezkeli said Iran is the entity responsible for the situation. 

"Iran is the force behind Hamas; they would not have acted without Iranian support,” he highlighted. “I have hope in Biden supporting us, but the question is whether he will be aggressive in this matter. Nasrallah will continue to provoke until we stand firm. He won't engage in an all-out conflict, but once they enter the strip, the situation in the north will change. This poses a threat that is a thousand times more dangerous than Hamas."