TEL AVIV: A top Israeli official said that he expected Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to last through the end of the year, amid continued calls for a cease-fire.
“We may have another seven months of fighting to consolidate our success and achieve what we have defined as the destruction of Hamas’ power and military capabilities,” national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told Israeli public radio.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a visit to Moldova, said Israel needed a postwar plan “as soon as possible” and that the absence of such a plan could lead to chaos.
“And I think this underscores the imperative of having a plan for the day after, because in the absence of a plan for the day after, there won’t be a day after,” Blinken told reporters.
“If not, Hamas will be left in charge, which is unacceptable. Or if not, we’ll have chaos, lawlessness and a vacuum.”
The U.N. official in charge of the Middle East peace process echoed those concerns, saying a longer-term political strategy must be part of the current efforts to end the fighting.
“Let me be clear: The political framework and structures we establish now will play a significant role in the success or failure of what follows,” Tor Wennesland told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the Middle East.
“This requires us to plan and act deliberately and thoughtfully, knowing that today’s decisions will not only shape the future governance of Gaza, but also determine the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more broadly.”
(VOA)
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