The IDF's role in the Gaza Strip is not to eliminate every Hamas operative, but to shape a reality that strengthens Israel’s position in any eventual hostage deal or ceasefire agreement, retired Maj.-Gen. Israel Zini told 103FM radio on Wednesday.
“The army’s role is to shape a military reality that gives Israel a stronger hand in future negotiations,” Zini said. “Ultimately, there will be some form of agreement, but it must be from a position of strength.”
His remarks come amid sustained public pressure over the war’s duration and the fate of hostages still held by Hamas, nearly two years into the fighting.
Zini said most IDF casualties do not occur during direct combat. Instead, Hamas operatives use tunnel shafts to ambush soldiers, plant explosives on vehicles, and retreat underground before troops can respond.
He pointed to Beit Hanun, Rafah, and Khan Yunis as key hotspots of subterranean activity. The IDF recently dismantled several dozen kilometers of tunnels in Khan Yunis. Still, ambushes in Beit Hanun using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have continued to result in deadly incidents.
War goals shift from total victory to strategic outcome
While some Hamas fighters have fled south or remain hidden underground, Zini said the objective is not to pursue every individual terrorist. Rather, the IDF must shape conditions that force Hamas into concessions.
“This is not about chasing ghosts,” Zini said. “It is about achieving a situation on the ground that strengthens Israel’s hand.”
His comments reflect a growing debate inside Israel over whether to escalate military operations or shift toward diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Residents near Gaza demand lasting security
“No one is willing to tell the residents of Be’eri and Nahal Oz to go home and that everything is fine, only to face another disaster in three or four years,” Zini said.
He added that the IDF must correct its failure to defend border communities on October 7. “With hostages still held, the only thing that speaks to the other side is the conquest of Gaza,” he said.