Israel may face a strategic defeat in the Gaza Strip, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum, taking place these days in California.
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“In this type of fighting, the center of gravity is the civilian population. And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you will replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat,” the Pentagon chief warned.
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According to him, the IDF can win the battle against Hamas only if Israeli troops make preventing the death of civilians and protecting them in the Gaza Strip their main goal.
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The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is associated with the territorial interests of the parties and has remained a source of tension and fighting in the region for many decades. The decision of the UN, with the active role of the USSR, in 1947 determined the creation of two states – Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created.
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A new round of confrontation began after Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on the morning of October 7. After massive shelling, Hamas fighters entered the border areas in the south of the Jewish state, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took hostages. The movement’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
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In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords. Within days of the attack, the IDF took control of all populated areas near the Gaza Strip border and began conducting airstrikes against targets, including civilians, in the enclave. In addition, Israel announced a complete blockade of Gaza: supplies of water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel were suspended. At the end of October, the ground phase of the Israeli operation began: troops surrounded the city of Gaza, and the enclave was actually divided into southern and northern parts.
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According to the latest data, the number of victims in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 16 thousand people, more than 35 thousand were injured. In Israel, more than 1.2 thousand people died, more than five thousand were injured.
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From November 24 to November 30, a truce was in force between Tel Aviv and Hamas, but it could not be extended. The IDF said the Palestinian movement violated the agreements and opened fire on Israeli territory, resulting in renewed fighting.
