Former Shin Bet official: Israel far away from achieving its initial war objectives

Jerusalem (Quds News) – Eric Berbing, former head of the Jerusalem, West Bank, and cyber operations at the Israeli security agency, the Shin Bet, has argued that the dynamics of the war in Gaza are changing, evident in the rising casualties among Israeli soldiers.
In an article published by Hebrew Channel 12 on Monday, Berbing noted that Hamas’s military strength has shifted since October 7, with resistance cells carrying out lethal operations using unconventional methods.
Most notably, he highlighted the transformation of the Qassam Brigade cells, now operating with minimal members, without distinctive clothing or signals, leveraging their intimate knowledge of the terrain where they previously lived with their families.
According to Berbing, these resistance members exhibit strong religious commitment and hostility toward the Israeli occupation, making them willing to sacrifice for their cause.
This determination intensifies the confrontations with the invading Israeli troops, with only a few militants operating in the areas of the Israeli ground invasion.
Berbing anticipates that the Israeli military might exhaust its aerial and artillery capabilities against significant targets, proving ineffective in face-to-face combat amid urban destruction.
Meanwhile, Hamas aims to turn these areas into ambushes for capturing and killing Israeli soldiers, he believes, utilizing underground tunnels and entire cities built over the years to store military assets.
Despite Hamas losing dozens of fighters and utilizing substantial military resources, Berbing believes that the Israeli military is far from achieving its initial war objectives.
He argues that defeating the Hamas movement is a prolonged process due to its resilience, determination, and strategic surprises not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank and potentially beyond.
Berbing dismisses unrealistic expectations of Hamas surrendering, stating that dismantling the movement will not conclude within weeks or even months.
He emphasizes the importance of Israeli leaders conveying these realities to the public, urging transparency to manage expectations amid the evolving nature of the war.