Experts Jonathan Schanzer and Jacob Nagel join host Cliff May to discuss Israel's ground offensive in Gaza. They explore the challenge of Hamas' underground tunnel network, including potential hostage situations. They debunk the idea of Qatar brokering a deal between Israel and Hamas. The episode also touches on Israel's determination to eliminate Hamas and various aspects of the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli forces have made progress in eliminating Hamas' military capabilities, including capturing the Shifa Hospital Complex, which is seen as a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
Israel's objective has shifted from defeating Hamas to permanently neutralizing the terrorist organization by clearing the underground tunnels in Gaza, a challenging and time-consuming task that is crucial for long-term security.
Deep dives
Update on the war in Gaza
The war between Hamas and Israel has been ongoing for two months, with Israeli forces aiming to cripple Hamas' military capabilities and end their rule over Gaza. Despite progress made by Israeli warfighters, there is opposition from certain members of the international community who identify as pro-Palestinian. Both Reserve Brigadier General Jacob Nagel and Dr. Jonathan Shanser provide insights on the war. Nagel discusses the changes in his daily activities, including TV appearances and offering views and ideas to the Israeli government. Shanser emphasizes the progress made by Israeli forces and the potential significance of recent developments, such as the capture of the Shifa Hospital Complex. He also raises the issue of hostage negotiations with Qatar and the need for the Qataris to deliver on a potential deal. Both Nagel and Shanser express the importance of eliminating Hamas and discuss potential future developments, including the situation with Hezbollah along the Lebanese border.
The importance of continued Israeli action
Israel's stance towards Hamas has changed significantly following the war's initiation on October 7. The country's goals have shifted from defeating Hamas to eliminating the terrorist organization entirely. The war aims to establish a situation where there is no Hamas presence in Gaza, including within the military, government, and organizational structures. Nagel emphasizes this shift in Israeli objectives and highlights the need for a sustained effort to ensure Hamas is permanently neutralized. Israel's focus is now on clearing tunnels in the ground, a task that may take years to complete, but is deemed essential for long-term security.
Challenges in the ongoing conflict
The podcast discusses various challenges and complexities present in the ongoing conflict. These include the issue of hostage negotiations with Hamas, the involvement of outside actors such as Qatar, the unique situation in the West Bank, and the potential for escalation along the Israeli-Lebanese border. The hosts and guests highlight how these factors contribute to the complexity and potential shifts in the conflict. They emphasize the need for continued vigilance and a careful examination of key indicators to accurately assess the progression of the war.
Impact on the international community and potential paths forward
The discussion touches upon the international community's response to the conflict. It highlights the need for a change in perception and understanding, particularly regarding Israel's adherence to international law and the Geneva Conventions, as well as the actions and responsibilities of other actors involved, such as Egypt. The guests also mention potential steps that could be taken moving forward, including addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, exploring options for temporary safe spaces in neighboring regions, and initiating discourse to redefine and strengthen relationships within the Middle East.
For an update on Israel's ground offensive in Gaza, AKA Israel's War on Terrorism, host Cliff May is joined by FDD experts Jonathan Schanzer — FDD Senior Vice President for Research and author of Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War — and FDD Senior Fellow Jacob Nagel, who previously served as Israel's National Security Advisor under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
They unpack IDF findings from inside (and underneath) the Shifa hospital complex in Gaza. They discuss the broader challenge that Israel faces with Hamas' expansive network of underground tunnels lurking beneath even more hospitals and other civilian infrastructure all over Gaza — how deep are they? Can Israel actually destroy every single one of them? Is it where Hamas is hiding hostages? They explain why Qatar has yet to broker a "deal" between Israel and Hamas to free hostages and why relying on Qatar for that in the first place was "ridiculous" — one of our experts even shares what he thinks is Israel's most promising course of action to secure hostages. (...and more.)
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