NEW YORK July 03. 2024 (Saba) -Israel's top generals want to begin a cease-fire in Gaza even if it keeps Hamas in power for the time being, The New York Times (NYT) said late on Tuesday, "widening a rift between the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has opposed a truce that would allow Hamas to survive the war.
The generals think that a truce would be the best way of freeing the roughly 120 Israelis still held, both dead and alive, in Gaza, according to six current and former security officials interviewed by the paper.
Underequipped for further fighting after Israel's longest war in decades, the generals also think their forces need time to recuperate in case a land war breaks out against Hezbollah.
A truce with Hamas could also make it easier to reach a deal with Hezbollah, according to the officials, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.
Hezbollah has said it will continue to strike northern Israel until Israel stops fighting in the Gaza Strip.
"The military is in full support of a hostage deal and a cease-fire," said Eyal Hulata, who served as Israel's national security adviser until early last year, and who speaks regularly with senior military officials.
"They believe that they can always go back and engage Hamas militarily in the future," Mr. Hulata said. "They understand that a pause in Gaza makes de-escalation more likely in Lebanon. And they have less munitions, less spare parts, less energy than they did before — so they also think a pause in Gaza gives us more time to prepare in case a bigger war does break out with Hezbollah."
Fewer reservists are reporting for duty, according to four military officials. And officers are increasingly distrustful of their commanders, amid a crisis of confidence in the military leadership propelled in part by its failure to prevent the Hamas-led attack in October, according to five officers.
At least some tanks in Gaza are not loaded with the full capacity of the shells that they usually carry, as the military tries to conserve its stocks in case a bigger war with Hezbollah does break out, according to two officers. Five officials and officers confirmed that the army was running low on shells. The army also lacks spare parts for its tanks, military bulldozers and armored vehicles, according to several of those officials.
K.N
resource : Saba
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