Peace Council Affiliate Criticizes Israeli Government's Gaza Strategy

A source close to the Peace Council told i24NEWS on Thursday that the Israeli government's policy of targeted assassinations, while leaving Hamas with its military and governance intact, will not lead to the organization's elimination. The source criticized the current strategy in the Gaza Strip, arguing that while targeted killings of Hamas operatives may be justified, the overall approach will not result in the dismantling of the terror group.

"The government's policy is targeted assassinations, while leaving Hamas with its army and its rule," the source stated. "The Peace Council wants the complete dismantling and elimination of Hamas. Israel is eliminating individual Hamas members, but not Hamas itself."

These remarks come amid a dispute over the next phase of operations in Gaza, following a July 30 agreement between Hamas and the Peace Council for the gradual disarmament of the organization. The source close to the Peace Council sharply rejected the Israeli approach, describing it as "policy similar to the period before October 7."

The source proposed an alternative strategy: "The way to do this is 14 days of calm, except for actions against immediate threats, and full cooperation from the government in all preparatory and logistical steps required for voluntary disarmament." The source added, "If Hamas begins to disarm quickly and provides all the coordinates of the tunnels, that would be excellent. If it does not disarm, then the IDF will receive international backing to do so by force."