By Abdul Raouf Arnaout
JERUSALEM (AA) - A former Israeli military commander has advised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise caution before launching a ground attack in the Gaza Strip.
“I recommended to the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that we should exercise caution before launching a ground operation, as the army is not adequately prepared,” Yitzhak Brick, a former ombudsman major general, told public broadcaster KAN.
He said Palestinian groups have prepared a “robust defense strategy” for any Israeli ground operation in Gaza.
“They strategically roadside bombs, explosive belts, mines, booby traps, and anti-tank fire along the roadways," Brick said.
The former military commander warned that, “If the Israeli army ventures into Gaza, its forces will likely suffer significant attrition, resulting in a substantial number of casualties.”
"Even after entering, the primary objective, which involves dismantling Hamas and Islamic Jihad within the tunnels, will be an extraordinarily protracted endeavor, potentially lasting for several months."
Brick expected that Israeli forces would engage in “intense clashes” with Palestinian factions in Gaza.
“There will be serious issues with supplies, water, food, fuel, evacuating the wounded, repairing equipment, securing the forces, and logistical services,” he said.
“Even after a long period, the Israeli army will not be able to completely eliminate the militants; they will withdraw with many casualties, not completing the mission, and this will be seen as a major victory for Hamas."
The major general warned that an Israeli ground operation in Gaza “could potentially escalate into a regional conflict." He suggested that Israel continue its aerial strikes on Gaza “rather than a ground incursion into their territory."
The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when Palestinian group Hamas launched a cross-border attack into Israeli towns near the enclave. Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment campaign in the Gaza Strip. It has amassed troops near Gaza border for a planned ground operation.
More than 7,100 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 5,791 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala in Istanbul