The Israeli Media: Hamas is Not a Caged Cat, and Frustration Over Netanyahu's Neglect of Prisoners

 The Israeli Media: Hamas is Not a Caged Cat, and Frustration Over Netanyahu's Neglect of Prisoners

The Israeli Prisoners

The Israeli media has recently quoted analysts, journalists, and both former and current Israeli officials, who emphasize that the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, is not a mere caged cat. They also shed light on the ongoing presence of resistance fighters in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, some families of prisoners express their frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's determination to settle Gaza on the ground.

Understanding the Israeli Perspective

Maya Shaioun, the director of the Israel-Europe program at the "Mitvim" Institute, conveyed that Israel currently seems to have a clear political direction. However, not a single word has been heard from the government regarding the release of prisoners.

Mirav Gonin, the mother of a missing person named Romi, expressed her concerns, saying, "Every time they talk about settling Gaza on the ground, I say, 'Fine, but where is Romi? Where is Ofir? Where are the other children? When you strike Gaza, what will happen there?'" She emphasized that she is not in a position to make a political decision, and while the settlement of Gaza on the ground might be the right policy, she does not know if that is true, and it doesn't concern her to know.

The Military Perspective

Former Mossad chief, Yossi Cohen, stated that he could never claim that Hamas is just a "small caged cat" as some perceived it through the government's dealings. He added, "I have never said it's a small cat; it's a terrorist organization, suffused with extremist Islamic motivations and capabilities that are now clear to us."

Almog Buker, a correspondent for Israel's Channel 13 in the southern region, mentioned the presence of dozens of infiltrators (referring to resistance fighters) within Israel (Gaza border settlements), even after 8 days of the occupation's campaign. When asked whether these fighters have been inside the settlements since the first day of the "Operation Guardian of the Walls" or if they managed to infiltrate again, he stated there were signs of two infiltration operations, mainly in the Ashkelon settlement, where fighters often infiltrated via the sea.

According to Buker, most fighters are located in the area and may have established camps within the Gaza Strip. He added, "Perhaps they are planning their next operations because you see them every time in different places, whether in the southern region, the center, or inside villages, specifically in Zikim and Ashkelon."

Hamas's Military Capability

Additionally, from the perspective of the Israeli correspondent, Hamas has the capability to launch hundreds of rockets into the central area daily. This has already been witnessed in the heavy barrages that came from Gaza in recent days.

Yossi Yehoshua, the military analyst at the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, stated that Hamas has been managing its weaponry from the beginning, just as it did during the 51-day Operation Protective Edge. He believes that Hamas currently possesses more ammunition with longer ranges. While he is not surprised if they target northern Israel with rockets, like the Galilee, he stated that these missiles will likely be long-range ones, making them easier to intercept.

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Despite encouraging a sense of calm regarding these rockets, Yehoshua acknowledges the resistance's ability to continue launching and organizing missile attacks, ensuring their operations extend over a long period. He added, "If Hamas and the Islamic Jihad started with, for example, 15,000 rockets, it means they don't have many long-range missiles, and therefore they will be dealt with economically."

Israel's Energy and Infrastructure Minister, Yuval Katz, stressed that the government is always accountable to its citizens, affirming, "The defense agreement between the government and its citizens has been violated, as citizens have been neglected and left in horrifying situations." Katz also emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to draw meaningful conclusions.