Israel's defense minister expects long and costly war, yet remains confident of victory

By Faruk Zorlu

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant underscored the extended and costly nature of his country’s ongoing conflict with the Palestinian Hamas group but expressed confidence in eventual victory.

"This will be a long war. The price will be high, but we are going to win -- for Israel, for the Jewish people, and for the values that both countries believe in," Gallant said in a joint statement Monday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken following a war cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv.

Emphasizing the significance of Blinken's second visit within a week and the visits of other high-ranking US officials to Israel, he said "the American flag is sailing on boats in the Mediterranean, and we know what is the meaning."

"We’ve always known that the US is a great ally. But today, people in Israel, in the world, see with their own eyes that you are here for the second time in this week, senior officials of America are here every day," he added.

For his part, Blinken said: "You know our deep commitment to Israel’s right – indeed, its obligation – to defend itself and to defend its people. And in that, you have and always have the support of the US," according to the US State Department.

Recently, Blinken also visited Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Ten days into the conflict with Hamas, an Israeli bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip has continued, with over 1 million people – almost half the population of Gaza – having been displaced, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis and has no electricity, while water, food, fuel and medical supplies are running out as civilians flee to its southern region following an Israeli warning to evacuate its northern areas.

Israel previously ordered a "full siege" on Gaza in retaliation for a surprise attack launched by Hamas on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed.

In addition to the siege, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Gaza, with strikes killing 2,808 people, including over 750 children.