GAZA-(MaraviPost)-A stark warning has been issued by retired Israeli Major General Yitzhak Brik, a former senior officer and military ombudsman, that Hamas has fully recovered its pre-war military capabilities and now fields an estimated 40,000 fighters entrenched within Gaza’s vast tunnel network.
This assessment directly contradicts official Israeli military claims of progress in Gaza, sparking a heated debate within Israel’s defense circles.
According to Brik, the destruction across Gaza is being used to create a false impression of victory, masking the reality that less than 10% of Hamas’s tunnels have been destroyed.
These tunnels, stretching hundreds of kilometers and reaching depths of up to 80 meters, allow Hamas operatives to move undetected, plant explosives, and evade Israeli forces.
Brik’s warning is based on his analysis of Hamas’s guerrilla tactics, decentralized command structure, and ability to recruit replacements, which have enabled the group to rebuild its ranks despite heavy casualties.
Israeli intelligence estimates that Hamas lost around 15,000 fighters but has since replenished those numbers through local recruitment.
The retired general also criticized the Israeli government’s strategic decisions, particularly its overreliance on air power and failure to establish a viable post-war governance plan for Gaza.
He warned that without a political solution, Hamas will continue to reassert control, undermining Israel’s long-term security goals.
“Hamas’s ability to replenish its ranks and maintain its tunnel network is a clear indication that the current military campaign is not achieving its intended objectives,” Brik said in a recent article published in Maariv. “The destruction across Gaza is being used to create a false impression of victory, but the reality on the ground is far from it.”
Brik’s assessment has sparked a heated debate within Israel’s defense circles, raising urgent questions about the effectiveness of the current military campaign and the future of Gaza’s political landscape.
Many are now calling for a re-evaluation of Israel’s strategy in Gaza, with a focus on finding a political solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict.
The tunnel network used by Hamas is a complex system that allows the group to move undetected and evade Israeli forces.
According to Brik, the tunnels stretch hundreds of kilometers and reach depths of up to 80 meters, making it difficult for Israeli forces to detect and destroy them.
“Hamas’s tunnel network is a game-changer in the conflict,” Brik said, adding that,”It allows them to move undetected, plant explosives, and evade Israeli forces.
The fact that less than 10% of these tunnels have been destroyed is a clear indication that the current military campaign is not achieving its intended objectives.”
The implications of Brik’s warning are far-reaching, and many are now calling for a change in Israel’s strategy in Gaza.
Some are advocating for a more diplomatic approach, while others are calling for a more targeted military campaign that addresses the root causes of the conflict.
As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the conflict is far from over, and a new approach is needed to address the complex issues at play.
Brik’s warning serves as a wake-up call for the Israeli government and the international community to re-evaluate their strategy and work towards finding a lasting solution to the conflict.
The warning issued by retired Israeli Major General Yitzhak Brik is a stark reminder of the complexities of the conflict in Gaza.
Hamas’s ability to recover its military capabilities and field a large number of fighters in the tunnel network is a clear indication that the current military campaign is not achieving its intended objectives.
A new approach is needed to address the root causes of the conflict and find a lasting solution that ensures the security and stability of both Israel and Gaza.
