Israeli Offensive Against Hamas in Gaza
Israeli forces believe they are on the path to victory in their offensive against Hamas in Gaza, with Hamas still capable of fighting back and potentially drawing Israel into a long conflict. International criticism of Israel's tactics is mounting as civilian casualties rise.
Key Points
- Israeli forces have killed about 12,000 of Hamas' roughly 30,000-strong army
- Israel has suffered a blow to its international image due to civilian casualties
- Hamas is still capable of fighting back and holding Israeli hostages
Pros
- Israeli forces believe they have severely damaged Hamas' capacity to fight
- Israeli forces have targeted Hamas' leadership, infrastructure, and weapons storage sites
Cons
- Hamas is still capable of fighting back and has a substantial number of fighters left
- Massive civilian casualties in Gaza are fueling global criticism of Israel's tactics