President Joe Biden’s top military adviser cast doubt on the feasibility of Israel’s stated objective to fully destroy the Hamas terrorist organization in remarks Thursday, Reuters reported.
Eliminating every fighter in the terrorist group might not be possible and could drag the war out, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned while en route to Japan, according to Reuters. Israel’s current tactic of targeting senior leaders could accelerate progress, Brown added in his first public remarks on the conflict since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.
“I think the longer this goes, the harder it can become,” he said, Reuters reported.
Destroying Hamas is “a pretty large order,” he said, Reuters reported. (RELATED: Biden Asked Netanyahu For Three-Day Pause To Allow Hostages To Be Freed: REPORT)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned early on that the war would be long and difficult, but necessary to protect Israel civilians. Jerusalem declared war on Gaza after Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing an estimated 1,400 Israelis and taking more than 240 hostages. Israel’s military launched large-scale ground operations into Gaza in late October.
Brown expressed confidence Israel is abiding by the laws of war but said Israel’s public messaging about its operations in Gaza could be improved, Reuters reported. He’s discussed that with his Israeli counterpart.
“There’s room for improvement based on what we’re seeing,” Brown said. “What I’ve talked to him about is how do we demonstrate — not only with the videos but also as they talk about the strikes — why they’re striking in some locations, provide more context to the strike.”
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said 10,569 civilians had been killed as of Wednesday, Reuters reported.
“That’s why when we talk about time — the faster you can get to a point where you stop the hostilities, you have less strife for the civilian population that turns into someone who now wants to be the next member of Hamas,” he said, according to Reuters.
Hamas waged a war on humanity.
If we don’t stop them now who knows what they will do next time. pic.twitter.com/7M8vKsC9jo
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 9, 2023
The U.S. military is advising Israel on hostage rescue and counter-Hamas operations in Gaza, drawing on lessons from America’s own experience fighting terrorists in Iraq, CNN reported. The U.S. reportedly held reservations about a full ground assault.
Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder would not delve into details of the Pentagon’s discussions with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), citing operational security reasons, in a press briefing on Nov. 6. Discussions include Israel’s campaign focus, he said.
“Importantly, what do you need, in terms of, again, defending your people? But then also, again, discussing things like the importance of conducting operations in accordance with the laws of war,” Ryder said.
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