Tamir Hayman, in an opinion piece on Israel’s Channel 12 today, Saturday, explained that occupying Gaza City and the central region camps could dismantle the last stronghold of Hamas. He clarified that the objectives set by Israel since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip included dismantling Hamas’s rule in Gaza, removing military threats against Israel, restoring a sense of security, enhancing deterrence from the sector, and creating conditions for the return of prisoners. However, most of these goals are unmeasurable, and what remains at the core is the elimination of Hamas and the return of prisoners.
The former Israeli general noted that Hamas no longer possesses its previous capabilities as it has dismantled its brigades and leadership, no longer engaging in organized combat, and has turned into a group using guerrilla warfare tactics. The former head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, AMAN, confirmed that toppling Hamas’s authority necessitates finding a competitive civilian alternative.
It is noted that the plan to control Gaza City includes forcibly displacing about one million Palestinians to the southern part of the strip, which has caused widespread international criticism. Despite all warnings, preparations for implementing the plan continue. Gaza Strip residents suffer from unprecedented levels of hunger, with UN organizations warning of famine outbreaks and increasing deaths due to malnutrition, especially among children, the sick, and the disabled.
From October 7, 2023, to August 21, 2025, around 62,000 Palestinians have been killed, with approximately 157,000 injured, according to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. Meanwhile, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed Moscow’s concern over the escalation in the Gaza Strip and the loss of civilian lives, emphasizing that Moscow is closely monitoring the situation and looks forward to returning to the path of peace.
