Thanks for your assessment of the situation, Josh. But I wouldn’t bet on Hamas regaining control of Gaza.
Trump is happy with Israel now. He got his “optics” at the inauguration by trotting out Israeli hostages that were released because of his insistence that Bibi sign the deal. (Trump is very savvy about optics.) He recently removed all remaining restrictions on the supply of essential weapons and armaments to Israel. He’s also made statements to the effect that Hamas is too “vicious” to have control of Gaza and that “Bibi must do what he has to do” to secure Israel from them.
This, along with Trump’s assertion that he doesn’t think the deal will move beyond the 2nd and 3rd stages; that he is surrounded by cabinet members who want Hamas eliminated – that he thinks Indonesia might be a good destination for them (and other Pallies) and that he hinted at the real estate potential of Gaza’s "seaside location" means that Israel is getting the green light to send Hamas to their awaiting virgins - finally.
It's up to Bibi now. And Herzi Halevi’s replacement.
Under no circumstances should Hamas be allowed to even become a political influencer, all of Judea and Samaria must be cleared of terrorists, and those who are not loyal to the existence of Israel must be deported to Jordan. The clearer the message, the safer life. This should also apply to all non-Jews in addition to Arabs. Jerusalem is indivisible
You eradicate your enemy first and only after it is defeated do you worry about the day after HaLevi was a defeatist without a strategic plan other than pleasing DC leaking his views to the legacy media and avoiding responsibility for 10/7 and what led to 10/7 as long as possible He was no Datsun or Sharon
Trump is drawing blue prints for beach side luxury for Israel as we k’vetch…in other words, he has told Netanyahu this is the time to get rid of them. Did anyone catch the quiet little assured statement under his breath staring into a camera: “that’s some pretty beach…”? Netanyahu caught it. ”For Gaza shall be abandoned, Ashkelan a desolation, Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron uprooted [the strip]. Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast…I will destroy you so that there be no inhabitant…So the seacoast will be pastures…and the coast will be for the remnant of the House of Judah.” Get your maps out and look at today’s news. Can’t make this up. This has never been fulfilled any other time of history. ‘Clean them all out, Bibi…and I’ll help you rebuild,’ Trump. That’s what I heard.
Perhaps some or all of these scenarios are valid. Or perhaps, the General is one of those people among us who still has honor and is willing to accept the responsibilities of his decisions. In a world where it seems that no one accepts responsibility for anything, unless it is good for their own personal brand, this is a refreshing change. Hopefully, more of the Israeli leadership accepts responsibility for its actions on Oct.7 (or lack thereof) and follows his example.
Well, after a long year and a half and failing to defeat the Hamas and Hizballah threats (see: abandoned Israeli towns, still), I would be hard-pressed to call his resignation "honorable," but thinking again, you may be right, and this is about as "honorable" as we can ever hope to see.
The northern part of Gaza should be cleared of Palestinians , annexed and colonized by Israel. At the same time Israel should NEVER give up the Philadelphi corridor which controls supplies from Egypt. Loss of land is the ONLY thing that is deeply understood and yes-respected in the Middle East. Hamas will have a very tough time explaining that land loss and still be respected.
If the West holds strong and withholds funds for the rebuilding of Gaza so long as hamas remains in control, this will go a long way towards weakening hamas. Given Trump's emphasis on economic sanctions vs. military action, along with expanding the Abraham Accords to Saudia Arabia and other Arab nations, hamas may find itself isolated and less popular. Israel, given it is a small country, can accomplish only so much militarily.
With the surge in anti-left govts around the West hopefully lavishing our money on 3rd world terrorists will be over... If they continue to shower Hamas with their citizens cash I can see Le Pen and friends get into power.
Hamas will use the rebuilding of Gaza to create an infrastructure much more advanced then it has now. Underground cities, tunnels linking all of Gaza, reinforced bomb shelters, etc. Things won't go so well for Israel the next time.
Joshua, you paint a very bleak picture for Israel. I believe with the support of the US and not in words only with a "but," Israel will have the ability to strategize and finish the job. I agree with Trump that this deal will inot be honored to complete its three phases. I'm sure we all want to know more than the resignation of these people, what exactly went wrong that caused this massacre?
Just a thought inspired by your essay Joshua what if we got, instead of D-9’s from CAT, a super duper Boring Company tunnelling machine and completely undermined Gaza. Just wishful thinking.
I believe that in the late 1970’s a west German coal mining company accidentally completely undermined the polish city of Katawice (sic) and the whole place subsided. It could be apocryphal or my aging faulty memory.
That is actually a good idea. Put the damn thing on automatic drive and have it crisscross at different depths, notifying whenever it encounters a tunnel. That would work. Send this idea up the ladder, folks.
At 5 pm Yisrael time Amir Avivi told that is for preparing for the next war with Hamas and Iran support terrrorist organisations! IDF should be better ready for the next!! It was same with the Lebanon wars , the change of the leader helped to do things better!! It is great importance to pray for IDF and IAF and Eretz YISRAEL 🙌🙏🇮🇱❤️🇮🇱🙌🙏HASHEM has the control of everything everywhere all the time 🙌🙏❤️The Third Temple and the Kingdom of Israel ( Davidic Dynasty) are eternal and Sanhedrin is also in the Third Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem Very Soon Baruch HASHEM 🇮🇱❤️🇮🇱🙌🙏🇮🇱❤️🇮🇱
Since Hamas has no trouble recruiting new members this shows how complicit the Palestinians in Gaza are to their murderous policy. The response to this is a total siege of Gaza until the population surrenders hostages and gives up Hamas and sues for peace. Then they have to leave. Israel should state this clearly and proceed accordingly. Maybe Halevi is not the man for this job. Maybe the rest of the IDF elite are not the men for the job. But someone ought to be and the government ought to start the ball rolling. Don't count on Trump.
The real reason is much simpler. For decades now, Israel's military echelon has subjugated itself to the US and American interests. For this reason, when Netanyahu fired Galant, he quickly put out a statement reassuring the Biden administration that none of the other heads of the security establishment would be removed.
Just as Trump's return to the White House requires massive changes of staffing across Washington DC, the departure of Hertzi-Halevi's US backers means he also has to step down.
Amazing, in Israel a military leader actually accepts responsibility and resigns.
General Milley never admitted fault for the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. And then he received a "preemptive" pardon from Biden. At least his portrait has now been removed from the White House.
Thanks for your assessment of the situation, Josh. But I wouldn’t bet on Hamas regaining control of Gaza.
Trump is happy with Israel now. He got his “optics” at the inauguration by trotting out Israeli hostages that were released because of his insistence that Bibi sign the deal. (Trump is very savvy about optics.) He recently removed all remaining restrictions on the supply of essential weapons and armaments to Israel. He’s also made statements to the effect that Hamas is too “vicious” to have control of Gaza and that “Bibi must do what he has to do” to secure Israel from them.
This, along with Trump’s assertion that he doesn’t think the deal will move beyond the 2nd and 3rd stages; that he is surrounded by cabinet members who want Hamas eliminated – that he thinks Indonesia might be a good destination for them (and other Pallies) and that he hinted at the real estate potential of Gaza’s "seaside location" means that Israel is getting the green light to send Hamas to their awaiting virgins - finally.
It's up to Bibi now. And Herzi Halevi’s replacement.
Under no circumstances should Hamas be allowed to even become a political influencer, all of Judea and Samaria must be cleared of terrorists, and those who are not loyal to the existence of Israel must be deported to Jordan. The clearer the message, the safer life. This should also apply to all non-Jews in addition to Arabs. Jerusalem is indivisible
Amen to that.
Thank you fir your devoted services to Israel & IDF
You eradicate your enemy first and only after it is defeated do you worry about the day after HaLevi was a defeatist without a strategic plan other than pleasing DC leaking his views to the legacy media and avoiding responsibility for 10/7 and what led to 10/7 as long as possible He was no Datsun or Sharon
Trump is drawing blue prints for beach side luxury for Israel as we k’vetch…in other words, he has told Netanyahu this is the time to get rid of them. Did anyone catch the quiet little assured statement under his breath staring into a camera: “that’s some pretty beach…”? Netanyahu caught it. ”For Gaza shall be abandoned, Ashkelan a desolation, Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron uprooted [the strip]. Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast…I will destroy you so that there be no inhabitant…So the seacoast will be pastures…and the coast will be for the remnant of the House of Judah.” Get your maps out and look at today’s news. Can’t make this up. This has never been fulfilled any other time of history. ‘Clean them all out, Bibi…and I’ll help you rebuild,’ Trump. That’s what I heard.
Zephaniah . . .
Very interesting perspective. God’s prophecies always come true.
Perhaps some or all of these scenarios are valid. Or perhaps, the General is one of those people among us who still has honor and is willing to accept the responsibilities of his decisions. In a world where it seems that no one accepts responsibility for anything, unless it is good for their own personal brand, this is a refreshing change. Hopefully, more of the Israeli leadership accepts responsibility for its actions on Oct.7 (or lack thereof) and follows his example.
Well, after a long year and a half and failing to defeat the Hamas and Hizballah threats (see: abandoned Israeli towns, still), I would be hard-pressed to call his resignation "honorable," but thinking again, you may be right, and this is about as "honorable" as we can ever hope to see.
The northern part of Gaza should be cleared of Palestinians , annexed and colonized by Israel. At the same time Israel should NEVER give up the Philadelphi corridor which controls supplies from Egypt. Loss of land is the ONLY thing that is deeply understood and yes-respected in the Middle East. Hamas will have a very tough time explaining that land loss and still be respected.
If the West holds strong and withholds funds for the rebuilding of Gaza so long as hamas remains in control, this will go a long way towards weakening hamas. Given Trump's emphasis on economic sanctions vs. military action, along with expanding the Abraham Accords to Saudia Arabia and other Arab nations, hamas may find itself isolated and less popular. Israel, given it is a small country, can accomplish only so much militarily.
They won’t withhold funds. The West is full of pro-Hamas governments.
With the surge in anti-left govts around the West hopefully lavishing our money on 3rd world terrorists will be over... If they continue to shower Hamas with their citizens cash I can see Le Pen and friends get into power.
Hamas will use the rebuilding of Gaza to create an infrastructure much more advanced then it has now. Underground cities, tunnels linking all of Gaza, reinforced bomb shelters, etc. Things won't go so well for Israel the next time.
This is what worries me as well. No doubt they'll be flooded with international money, some from well-meaning and clueless Westerners.
Joshua, you paint a very bleak picture for Israel. I believe with the support of the US and not in words only with a "but," Israel will have the ability to strategize and finish the job. I agree with Trump that this deal will inot be honored to complete its three phases. I'm sure we all want to know more than the resignation of these people, what exactly went wrong that caused this massacre?
Just a thought inspired by your essay Joshua what if we got, instead of D-9’s from CAT, a super duper Boring Company tunnelling machine and completely undermined Gaza. Just wishful thinking.
I believe that in the late 1970’s a west German coal mining company accidentally completely undermined the polish city of Katawice (sic) and the whole place subsided. It could be apocryphal or my aging faulty memory.
That is actually a good idea. Put the damn thing on automatic drive and have it crisscross at different depths, notifying whenever it encounters a tunnel. That would work. Send this idea up the ladder, folks.
A grim but necessary report. Thank you Josh!
At 5 pm Yisrael time Amir Avivi told that is for preparing for the next war with Hamas and Iran support terrrorist organisations! IDF should be better ready for the next!! It was same with the Lebanon wars , the change of the leader helped to do things better!! It is great importance to pray for IDF and IAF and Eretz YISRAEL 🙌🙏🇮🇱❤️🇮🇱🙌🙏HASHEM has the control of everything everywhere all the time 🙌🙏❤️The Third Temple and the Kingdom of Israel ( Davidic Dynasty) are eternal and Sanhedrin is also in the Third Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem Very Soon Baruch HASHEM 🇮🇱❤️🇮🇱🙌🙏🇮🇱❤️🇮🇱
Since Hamas has no trouble recruiting new members this shows how complicit the Palestinians in Gaza are to their murderous policy. The response to this is a total siege of Gaza until the population surrenders hostages and gives up Hamas and sues for peace. Then they have to leave. Israel should state this clearly and proceed accordingly. Maybe Halevi is not the man for this job. Maybe the rest of the IDF elite are not the men for the job. But someone ought to be and the government ought to start the ball rolling. Don't count on Trump.
The real reason is much simpler. For decades now, Israel's military echelon has subjugated itself to the US and American interests. For this reason, when Netanyahu fired Galant, he quickly put out a statement reassuring the Biden administration that none of the other heads of the security establishment would be removed.
Just as Trump's return to the White House requires massive changes of staffing across Washington DC, the departure of Hertzi-Halevi's US backers means he also has to step down.
Amazing, in Israel a military leader actually accepts responsibility and resigns.
General Milley never admitted fault for the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. And then he received a "preemptive" pardon from Biden. At least his portrait has now been removed from the White House.