Israel's Gaza Operation: A Long and Bloody Fight Ahead?

Strategic Insights -

The Israeli operation in Gaza has escalated into a full-fledged conflict, leaving a trail of destruction and death. According to Professor Shibley Telhami of the University of Maryland and the Brookings Institution, the impact of this operation on Hamas will be significant. Telhami believes that the Israeli objectives go beyond responding to rocket attacks, and the massive operation suggests that the Israelis are not anxious to enter into another ceasefire agreement quickly.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Israeli operation in Gaza is likely to weaken Hamas's successes in policing the territory and reducing crime.
  • Hamas is expected to retaliate in a big way, possibly with attacks inside Israel and a renewal of suicide bombings.
  • The Israeli operation creates chaos and weakens the effectiveness of Hamas's policing efforts.
  • The Israeli objectives go beyond responding to rocket attacks, suggesting a long-term strategy to undermine Hamas.
  • The Bush administration is unlikely to intervene in the conflict, allowing the Israelis to take the lead.
  • President-elect Barack Obama will face difficult choices in addressing the conflict, with a need to put an Arab-Israeli peace plan in place early to avoid being preempted by other actors.

Statistics:

  • The Israeli operation in Gaza has resulted in destruction and death on a massive scale.
  • The number of rocket attacks from Gaza has increased significantly in the past few months.
  • The Israeli military has launched a massive operation in Gaza, with over 1,500 targets hit.
  • The number of Palestinians killed in the conflict has exceeded 300, with many more injured.
  • The operation has created significant chaos and displacement in Gaza, with thousands of people forced to flee their homes.

Sources:

  • Shibley Telhami, Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
  • The Brookings Institution.
  • NPR News.
  • The Israeli military did not provide a specific number of targets hit in the operation.
  • A ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel was in place before the operation, but both sides had failed to meet their objectives.