IDF Arabic Spokesperson Warns of Israeli Strategic Failures in Gaza

Three years after the October 7th attacks, IDF Arabic Spokesperson Avichai Adraee has expressed concern that Hamas has not internalized a sense of defeat, warning that Israel's current approach in Gaza is "one big improvisation." Adraee stated that while Hamas suffered a severe military blow, the "consciousness of loss" has not been ingrained in Gaza's population or leadership. He argued that many in Gaza, despite personal suffering, still view the October 7th events through an ideological lens that advances Hamas's long-term goals.

Adraee elaborated that the educational system in Gaza, which recently reopened after three years, continues to propagate the same terminology and ideology, framing the October 7th attacks as a step towards a divine promise. He believes Israel needs to invest significantly more in shaping this narrative and understanding Hamas as part of the broader Muslim Brotherhood ideology, which emphasizes long-term objectives and education in hatred.

He criticized Israel's public diplomacy efforts, suggesting they are in a worse state than before the massacre. While praising the IDF Spokesperson's Unit for its creativity, Adraee stressed that it cannot operate alone. He pointed to the damage caused by certain videos and the mishandling of events like the Fly Dubai incident, where the Israeli narrative struggled against widespread conspiracy theories in the Arab world. Adraee lamented a decline in civilian volunteers for public diplomacy, attributing it partly to political reasons, and called for a centralized, funded, and guided body to manage these efforts, warning that current improvisations are insufficient.