AS ISRAEL WAGES WHAT ITS GOVernment says will be a protracted conflict to defeat Hamas and bring home hostages held in the Gaza Strip, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official tells Newsweek exclusively that the scope and length of the campaign is being influenced by growing internal and external pressure.
The comments give unique insight into the likely remaining time frame for a conflict that has dominated global headlines since Hamas launched an unprecedentedly bloody raid of killing and kidnapping in Israel on October 7.
Both the pressure to bring the hostages home quickly and the difficulty of operating in Gaza were thrown into sharp relief on December 15, when the Israeli army said it had mistakenly killed three hostages after erroneously identifying them as a threat.
The war has drawn battle lines around the globe, from the United Nations to social media and college campuses, and has prompted fears of a wider regional conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden is under growing political pressure over his strong support for Israel as backers of a ceasefire call for an end to the Palestinian death toll in Gaza amid a stream of harrowing images of dead children in the rubble.
The IDF official, who spoke to Newsweek on the condition of anonymity, says the timetable for achieving the two operational goals of defeating Hamas and bringing home the hostages could be looked at through "different clocks" that are influencing the course of the ongoing campaign.
"We understand that there are a lot of different clocks that have impact on this and how fast we can go, and in kinetic ways [as well]," the IDF official says. "Can we strike extensively, which reduces some of the other clocks because it makes them go faster because of the international pressure that can come with that?
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
John David Washington
FOR JOHN DAVID WASHINGTON, BRINGING NETFLIX'S THE PIANO LESSON (November 22) from stage to screen was a family affair.
A Walk in the Parks
Jim O'Heir shares his memories of the hit NBC mockumentary and its cast's hopes of a reunion
Philomena Cunk
PHILOMENA CUNK IS JUST AS SURPRISED AS anyone else at her own popularity.
SOLVING THE PLASTIC PROBLEM
PLASTIC WASTE IS HARMING ANIMALS AND OUR PLANET. CAN THE DAMAGE BE UNDONE?
'I Was Struck by How Humbled and Insignificant I Felt'
An explorer says coming face-to-face in the wild with a grizzly and her cubs changed his perspective on life
Has AI Turned On Health Care?
Hospitals hoped artificial intelligence would lighten their staff's workload, but the same tech could be to blame as insurance firms increasingly deny Medicare Advantage claims
The Next Phase of War
After thousands of elite soldiers from North Korea joined Vladimir Putin’s forces against Ukraine, how has this latest move affected the conflict?
Saying No to Trump and Men
The election has led some women to boycott relationships and sex
My Fight for Equality and Justice
It will take more than just science to end AIDS. Inclusion, empathy and compassion are essential, too
NEW WORLD ORDER
HOW LEADERS ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE REACTING TO DONALD TRUMP'S REELECTION AS U.S. PRESIDENT
