Retired Lt. Col. Itamar Itam Assesses Gaza Situation as Complex but Favorable to Israel

Retired Lt. Col. Itamar Itam, an expert on the Gaza front, described the current situation in Gaza as complex but significantly better for Israel despite the war goals not being fully achieved. Speaking to Channel 7, Itam emphasized that while Hamas continues to control parts of Gaza's two million Palestinian population, Israel currently controls over 60 percent of the territory. He highlighted Prime Minister Netanyahu's firm stance against withdrawing from the ground and noted explicit U.S. statements that reconstruction in Gaza will not proceed until Hamas is fully disarmed and dismantled.

Itam stressed that Israel does not intend to govern Gaza's civilian population directly, which he sees as positive for security and international involvement. He acknowledged the difficulty in expecting Hamas to relinquish its weapons and control quickly but asserted that Israel maintains an effective security buffer zone. Itam suggested increasing pressure on Hamas by capturing strategic routes like Netzarim and Kisufim to further isolate the group without heavy casualties.

Regarding future Israeli preparations, Itam supported implementing plans to establish new settlements in northern Gaza to strengthen control and limit Hamas's ability to rearm. He also welcomed the U.S. agreement to resume targeted killings of Hamas operatives. Itam views Gaza as a secondary front compared to the primary threat from Iran and warned against reducing focus there.

Addressing concerns about potential policy changes by future Israeli governments, Itam expressed confidence that any government would prioritize border security and prevent a repeat of the October 7 attacks. He called for Netanyahu's continued leadership to apply lessons learned from those attacks and maintain strong military presence and offensive operations against Hamas.

Itam rejected claims that Hamas has regained its former strength, describing such reports as attempts to weaken Israeli resolve. He acknowledged some smuggling successes but said Hamas lacks the heavy weapons and organized military infrastructure it once had. He warned that neglecting Gaza could allow Hamas to rebuild, but currently, the situation is markedly different and more favorable to Israel.