Lt. Col. Conricus: Battle must dismantle Hamas; tunnel flooding on desk

The warfare in the Gaza Strip is continuing for its third month and Israeli army casualties are mounting. In an interview with The Media Line’s Felice Friedson, the Israel Defense Forces world spokesman, Lt.-Col. Jonathan Conricus, discusses the quick- and long-term needs of the warfare and says Israel is paying a heavy mark, but its needs live unshaken: Hamas may well perchance accrued be toppled, he says, and the hostages being held in Gaza, who accrued consist of 17 females and early life, may well perchance accrued be returned. Israel has no assorted desire.

Conricus says the Israeli army has uncovered hundreds of meters of tunnels, just a few of which are very refined. Rather a lot of the tunnels consequence in properties, and residential after residence is stout of weapons, explosives, and rocket launchers. One ability scenario for destroying the broad underground city is flooding it with seawater, an option Conricus didn’t push aside. “On the cease of the day,” he tells The Media Line, “these tunnels will confidently be the undoing of Hamas.”

The Media Line: Lt.-Col. Jonathan Conricus is the arena spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces. Thank you so unparalleled for taking the time to be with me right here at The Media Line.

Lt.-Col. Conricus: Thank you for having me, Felice.

TML: On the day that Israel declared warfare on Hamas, these talking on her behalf pressured that the path to victory would be a leisurely one, deliberate and dear. Now, some 68 days into the conflict, observers are amazed that rockets proceed to soar into Israel, and that the Hamas combating remains quite lethal. What „unexpecteds” beget you ever encountered in the last two months?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: So, we’ve been combating for 68 days, due to the seventh of October, and as we talked about from the originate, even sooner than we started ground operations in Gaza in recount to dismantle Hamas, we talked about that we realize and know that it will likely be a long and tense fight, that sadly we are going to wish to pay a mark in blood in recount to create our needs, and that it’s miles perchance not easy, but that our procure to the backside of is terribly distinct.

And all of us, infantrymen in the IDF, and officers, commanders, the Excessive Say, all realize that we now wish to dismantle Hamas in recount for Israeli civilians so as to race residence.

Now, we now beget considered Hamas proceed to characteristic staunch by the warfare, and we contemplate that they accrued retain certain rocket firing and fight capabilities. Unfortunately, yesterday we had a mass casualty event in Shejaiya [in the northern Gaza Strip] the build 10 Israeli infantrymen beget been killed from the Golani Brigade and our elite aerial rescue unit, our tactical Air Pressure unit [669].

So there are accrued pockets of resistance in northern Gaza, and the fight isn’t over there. There are accrued rocket launches and there are accrued tunnels, and there are accrued terrorists there. Pointless to tell, vastly degraded, but accrued there. And in southern Gaza, specifically in Khan Yunis, the combating is ongoing and it can well perchance well clutch quite a lot of time and quite a lot of effort in recount to dismantle Hamas, but we shouldn’t confuse time and endurance with an absence of procure to the backside of.

The procure to the backside of is terribly distinct, and we are going to defeat Hamas. There isn’t one of these thing as a assorted option.

TML: Lt.-Col. Conricus, having a perceive on the bloodshed, the loss of lives of your infantrymen, did you underestimate, did the IDF underestimate, the skill of Hamas?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: I contemplate what we are able to tell safely is that Hamas has prioritized their army capabilities over every little thing else, and we are able to contemplate as our forces approach and as we distinct areas, properties, neighborhoods, and system of cities from Hamas terrorists after we defeat them and dismantle the enemy verbalize there, what we recount is hundreds of miles of tunnels, hundreds, nearly a thousand, tunnel shafts. About a of them are very high-tech and high-stage and a high carry out of infrastructure. And we uncover residence after residence stout of weapons, IEDs, explosives, rocket launchers, and the rest that Hamas may well perchance well procure their hands on.

So what I contemplate I will contemplate is that I contemplate it’s distinct the build Hamas priorities beget been. They surely beget not been growing Gaza, caring for civilians, constructing civilian infrastructure, colleges and hospitals and mosques and roads and clinics. No. It has been in furnishing themselves with tunnels and shopping for and smuggling weapons so that they’re going to race on their continued jihad towards Israel. That will now be delivered to an cease.

Hamas will be dismantled, and as our forces on the ground approach, we recount what Hamas is forsaking. We’re documenting every little thing, and we’re moreover sharing it with the arena so that all americans can contemplate the build world abet has long previous, the build it became alleged to beget long previous above ground, and the build it evidently ended up underground in the hands of Hamas.

TML: This has been occurring for years, the smuggling of weapons, but attain you contemplate the arena neighborhood in actuality believes that nowadays? That you may well perchance even be announcing that right here, and on many assorted world applications, but public opinion doesn’t basically disclose that they accept as true with the actuality on the ground.

Lt.-Col. Conricus: I contemplate that the polling indicates not quite what you disclose because of I contemplate very stable strengthen among [the] US inhabitants, many of sympathy towards Israel, the Israeli executive even, and surely Israelis. And there’s a distinction between these three.

And I contemplate, based completely completely on the polls that I’ve considered, an amazing US majority, and I’ve considered polls of Western countries besides, an amazing US majority helps Israel’s quest to dismantle Hamas based completely completely on what they’ve considered, what Hamas did on October seventh. The atrocities, the raze, rape, the brutal executions, and the burning of corpses and all of these atrocities Hamas did that appear distant now.

It’s been more than two months, but it absolutely’s accrued very unique in Israeli collective memory. Folks noticed that, and other folks realize what monsters Israel is facing, and therefore other folks all across the arena strengthen Israel in our quest to protect ourselves. And I realize that there are certain elites, and there are editors and there are politicians and other folks for whom it doesn’t fit with their worldview and agenda that Israel may well perchance accrued be allowed to protect itself and to admire itself and for Israelis to live safely interior their internationally recognized border without distress of being below persecution, rape and raze.

But that’s stunning. They’ll proceed to harbor their unfavorable views, and we’ll proceed to manufacture our nation, protect ourselves, and defeat our enemies as we now beget been doing since 1948.

TML: The United States became very stable in supporting the Israel Defense Forces’ actions in Gaza. There is a limited of a shift. You contemplate President Biden hanging on some very stable pushback at this point and he’s announcing that [Israel] has to pull abet. He’s telling all americans [to] wrap it up in some originate. How is that this going to electrify what the IDF is going to attain in the coming weeks? What’s the tension point right here?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: I don’t contemplate one, and on the ground in the IDF that’s not the perception that we now beget. What I contemplate in news events and what I contemplate the president announcing is, I stand with Israel, and I strengthen Israel, and Israel needs to construct away with Hamas. Those are distinct phrases that I realize.

I contemplate quite a lot of journalists looking out to corner the president and procure assorted statements out of him, but I contemplate a president steadfast in his strengthen for Israel, unflinching and unmoving, and I contemplate that’s colossal. That’s the management that’s so extremely necessary in cases of warfare. And I contemplate assorted assorted necessary American officials, in conjunction with senior spokespeople like [John] Kirby taking a extremely distinct honest disclose on what needs to be performed, defeat Hamas, elevate the hostages residence, and attain it in this form of manner that it minimizes collateral injure and injure to civilians, which is what we are doing.

We attain hear to what our allies and company across the arena are announcing. We attain take into accout the criticism that’s voiced, and we attain are attempting to adapt, the build applicable, our ways on the ground in recount to accommodate that, and for certain, we talk what we are doing on the battlefield to the arena, so that the arena can contemplate how we are combating, and moreover, very importantly, what form of enemy we are combating. How the enemy uses cynically the civilians at their so-to-disclose disposal that they’ve got in Gaza because of it’s in fact how Hamas appears to be like to be at civilian Palestinians.

They contemplate of them as one thing disposable that they’re going to expend, in recount to procure public opinion swayed towards Israel and for Hamas, and in some cases, it in fact works and every other folks are calling for pause-fire, and every other folks are adopting Hamas’ talking aspects. I contemplate that’s very uncomfortable, but on the cease of the day, our procure to the backside of is terribly distinct.

We realize what needs to be performed, and we moreover realize that truly, frankly, we don’t beget a desire. If we attain not defeat Hamas, our other folks, Israelis, can not return to live safely of their properties, and that may well perchance very well be a consequence that’s unacceptable. And therefore we can proceed to fight except Hamas is defeated and our hostages returned.

TML: There are accrued quite a lot of hostages left in Gaza. Are you closer to getting any of them out? There beget been these in the IDF that attempted to raise two abet; they introduced two hostage our bodies abet, and sadly others beget been killed. [Former Chief of General Staff] Gadi Eisenkot, his son became killed in that action. So what’s it going to clutch? Is it going to be a fixed ride to contemplate the manner you’re going to procure the hostages out, and but you can perchance well lose more males in doing so?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: It’s a colossal field. A tactical field. It’s a extremely tense mission to deal with, thanks to how cynically Hamas is the utilization of the hostages as bargaining chips and as human shields. Now we beget talked about very clearly from the originate and always that we are going to spare no efforts in getting our hostages abet, even though it ability to habits tactical operations that will keep infantrymen at threat. It’s our dedication and our obligation to raise our hostages abet.

If it can well perchance well even be performed by diplomatic ability, colossal. If it can well perchance well’t be performed by diplomatic ability, then we can attain it in any assorted manner that’s ability. On the cease of the day, our honest and official obligation is to raise our other folks abet.

TML: What are the numbers in the period in-between? How many females are being held nowadays in Gaza?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: As some distance as I do know, there are 135 Israelis accrued held in Gaza, out of which 17 are females and early life.

TML: Does that consist of the hostage body that honest got right here abet? Is it down to 134?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: I do know 135. That’s basically the most up-to-date amount I in actuality beget based completely completely on basically the most up-to-date records.

TML: Was it 16 when it involves females at this moment?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: As some distance as I do know, we are talking about 17 females and early life. I could well perchance even be unsuitable by one. These are provocative figures despite every little thing, but in spite of every little thing, the necessary ingredient is that Hamas, they themselves violated the settlement that they pushed so tense in recount to create in return for a non permanent pause-fire or a cease in operations.

They beget been alleged to reach abet 10 live Israeli civilians, females or early life, each day. They did not attain so. They violated the terms of the settlement, after which they moreover started firing. And there is form of a lot of speculation as to why they did that. I’m not going to speculate about it, but a lot has been talked about about it.

But on the cease of the day, opposite to Hamas claims, there are not decrease than 17 females and early life accrued held in Hamas captivity, 68 days after the warfare started.

TML: The Wall Avenue Journal honest got right here out with a legend that you simply’re flooding the tunnels. It’s surely one thing that has been talked about. Is there the rest that you simply doubtlessly can part about this with the concerns that it can well perchance well injure the unique water that the Gazans will want?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: Yeah, Hamas has been digging tunnels for many years, and we now beget been growing assorted countermeasures and tactics in recount to deal with tunnels, each and every these tunnels that beget been dug into Israel what we name fright tunnels in recount to infiltrate into Israel, and moreover underground infrastructure that they’ve got interior Gaza which is definitely the spine of their fight community.

I will’t race into info. I will disclose that we are having a perceive at assorted capabilities and various system. We’re looking out to flip the tunnels from an asset that Hamas has in fact to a liability and by hook or by crook to their graves, and that’s our plot.

We’re taking every little thing into consideration. The positioning of Israelis who may well perchance even be held captive in certain areas, and various considerations; regarded as one of them you talked about. But on the cease of the day, these tunnels will confidently be the undoing of Hamas.

TML: Taking a perceive ahead, is it too early to perceive ahead for an cease game? Where will the Palestinian other folks be left? How will the Israeli borders be procure? There must be a mode that’s being talked about in the period in-between.

Lt.-Col. Conricus: I’m certain there is. Sure, and it’s a extremely necessary section. The IDF is section of the discussions on the cupboard and executive stage. We voiced our input when asked, when solicited. And on the cease of the day, the IDF will put in force the directives given by the manager.

I’m hoping, as an Israeli, that a honest and long-term resolution may well perchance even be chanced on, one which before every little thing ensures the safety and the sense of security for Israeli civilians that confidently soon will be ready to return to their properties, rebuild their communities. Despite the heavy losses that they’ve sustained, no topic the injure to their beautiful communities, they’ll beget the skill, they’ll get the skill.

And with the abet of the disclose and various these that will be serving to, moreover the resources in recount to rebuild these communities, and confidently invent them develop previous what they beget been sooner than. That’s in fact reliant before every little thing on security being available and stable for these civilians to feel safe in recount to reach abet there.

And then I’m hoping that the arena neighborhood will contemplate it fit to be part of in and abet, for once fundamentally exchange the ache in Gaza. We are able to free Gaza of the terrorist group that dominated with an iron fist, a heavy hand, over Gaza for the last 17 years, and that will be an different for certain, more evolved forces in the disclose, for nations in the disclose to put money into what’s happening and confidently elevate a couple of certain and sustainable future for Gaza.

I care mostly about Israeli civilians and our security, but I moreover realize that if there’s prosperity and balance and training for human values and perchance even democracy on the assorted facet of the border, that’s doubtlessly a honest ingredient for us besides. So I am hopeful that that will happen, and I’m hopeful that there will be world partners who will contemplate it fit to upward thrust to the topic and attain one thing honest for a exchange when it involves Gaza.

TML: What are the greatest obstacles that the IDF is facing now as they’re looking out to wrap up this warfare, in particular in the north?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: Yeah, I don’t contemplate we’re quite there but. Mentally, we are surely not inquisitive about wrapping up. We’re knee-deep in combating, and there accrued is form of a lot of heavy lifting to be performed. Hamas accrued has fight capabilities in southern Gaza and accrued needs to be eliminated.

We accrued must clutch out the management, their repeat and control, and to dismantle and clutch away their army and administrative and financial capabilities. So that’s accrued earlier than us.

In the north, whereas you’re regarding Hizbullah, then there is moreover a extremely necessary field. As I talked about sooner than regarding Gaza, I contemplate it’s very distinct that we isn’t going to request our civilians to reach abet to their properties and to be at threat of reliving the atrocities of October the seventh that took disclose along the Gaza border. And that the safety ache needs to change.

The Chief of Workers Herzi Halevi talked about so very clearly when he spoke with native leaders. Old to we request you to return, sooner than we recount you that it’s safe to return, we would make certain it’s safe and that the ache on the ground isn’t going to return to what it became on October the seventh.

Clearly, the main desire that Israel [can take], or the main option that we can entertain, isn’t the kinetic army violence one. But when we are left and not using a assorted decisions, if diplomacy fails, and various alternate choices will fail, then for certain Israel will wish to deal with the ache and may well perchance wish to deal with the presence of this Iranian proxy at our doorsteps hundreds of yards some distance off from Israeli communities. That’s unacceptable, and it’s miles perchance not the actuality after the warfare.

Let’s hope that folk, nations, and institutions which beget an pastime in the safety of Israelis and the integrity of the disclose of Lebanon will intervene soon adequate, so as to lead distinct of pointless bloodshed and destruction and the horrors that a warfare between Israel and Hizbullah may well perchance entail.

TML: Movies are circulating exhibiting Hamas taking on humanitarian abet that’s designated for his or her beget other folks. What can you add to that after it involves what you’re going by in looking out to procure other folks to the correct locations, suggesting the build it can well perchance well even be a procure zone, and moreover the obstacles there when it involves getting humanitarian abet to the inhabitants?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: Hamas colors are luminous by, and it’s one other instance of how they beget got absolutely no regard for Palestinian civilians. They’re only the utilization of them as cannon fodder, as human shields, and as pawns of their political efforts towards Israel. That’s very cynical, but it absolutely’s very evident for any one who is appropriate adequate and may well perchance well contemplate.

Yeah, so the honest colors of Hamas are exhibiting. It’s evident that they absolutely assemble not beget any regard for civilians, or Palestinian civilians. They proceed to expend them as their human shields and as expendable resources of their political game towards Israel.

We contemplate them looting UNRWA warehouses. We contemplate them taking on humanitarian vans and convoys. We contemplate them stealing fuel. We contemplate them stealing meals and medication that’s intended by the generous abet of the US and the abet of Egypt and a lot assorted system of the arena neighborhood they’re intended for honest humanitarian functions. And a lot across the arena hope that it can well perchance well procure to their civilian addresses.

But on the cease of the day, Hamas has one aim. Their aim is jihad, holy warfare towards Israel. They’re looking out to annihilate Israel. They’re looking out to attain the October seventh bloodbath time and persistently, and for that aim they assemble not beget any reveal taking humanitarian abet, with stealing fuel, or with taking meals that’s intended for Palestinian early life in hospitals in Gaza and bringing underground into their tunnels for his or her warring parties to beget as an different of civilians. So it’s abundantly distinct.

We’ve been announcing all along that Hamas abuses the civilian inhabitants. Our hope is that an increasing number of alternative folks across the arena will contemplate actuality and acknowledge the reality that Hamas is violating every little thing that’s alleged to be holy, and any of the classic tenets of humanity. They’re committing crimes towards humanity on a each day foundation.

And I’m hoping, in fact hope, that [the] UN and various humanitarian organizations will by hook or by crook reach around and talk the reality about what’s happening in Gaza and name Hamas out for what it’s miles: a terrorist group that brutally abuses the civilian inhabitants. And it’s miles ready high time that UNRWA and various organizations name [out] Hamas for what it’s miles and originate serving to us keep Palestinians from the horrors of warfare and procure them out of the fight zone, present them with world humanitarian abet, and make certain it doesn’t race into the unsuitable hands of Hamas.

TML: The clock is ticking, and the households of the hostages are deeply concerned that they’ll also not contemplate their members of the family. It’s a immense field for the Israel Defense Forces, especially now whenever you are pushing ahead with perchance flooding tunnels. What attain you attain? How attain you procure these hostages at this moment?

Lt.-Col. Conricus: As I talked about, it’s a extremely very ravishing topic, and an especially complex and in fact tense mission. Thanks to the sensitivity, I will’t race into the particular info of the ways of it. What I will disclose is that it’s miles a top precedence of the IDF to procure all of the hostages abet. We spare no efforts [in] intelligence, manpower, [and] resources in locating the hostages and looking out to raise them residence.

Unfortunately, one effort that we conducted just a few days ago ended with us finest being ready to reach abet the our bodies of hostages, but we can proceed to get intelligence, devise plans, and the build feasible, attain plans in recount to procure the other folks abet.

We’re aware of the ache, and I contemplate that one ingredient that may well perchance accrued be talked about is that for 68 days these Israelis beget been held in inhumane stipulations and the Crimson Rotten has not but chanced on the skill or the political will to in actuality race put in force their mandate and discuss with these hostages. Rather a lot of them [are] females, early life and civilians, but infantrymen beget rights besides below the Geneva Conventions. All of them are entitled to a discuss with by the Crimson Rotten to make certain they’re receiving scientific abet, that they’re safe, and that their classic wants are sorted.

That’s what’s alleged to happen. Sadly, it has not but took disclose, and it wouldn’t be a minute too soon once the Crimson Rotten in actuality will get procure admission to and implements its mandate.

TML: Lt.-Col. Jonathan Conricus, world spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, thank you on your time. And I desire you energy.

Lt.-Col. Conricus: Thank you. Thank you, Felice.