Hamas Chief vows to join ‘Long War’ of attrition in Gaza

Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar claimed that the Palestinian group is ready to wage a long war with Israel, abetted by allies under Iranian cover. In a letter to Hamas’s Yemeni allies, Sinwar declared he is ready to join the “long war of attrition.”

The declaration came with the fighting in Gaza continuing with fresh Israeli airstrikes reported to have killed at least two dozen people. There have also been doubts on the part of the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, regarding ending the conflict with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Despite massive loss, we are flexible enough to prolong, and it can be achieved through the new recruitments, said senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan. Sinwar warned that allied groups in the region, which also include those in Lebanon and Iraq, would step up their efforts to “break the enemy’s political will.”

Meanwhile, independent UN rights experts have warned that Israel stands the risk of international isolation because of its latest flares in Gaza and called on Western countries to make Israel accountable. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas is going to Spain and then the UN General Assembly indicates international focus that does not slow down on this war.

Israel has carried out attacks on militaries in response to Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of at least 41,226 Palestinians in Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry said. A minimum of 1,205 people, most of them civilians, were killed as Hamas took 251 hostages.

Tensions along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon remain high, and the presence of Hezbollah only fuels concern that the clash could spread. Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem said the group does not seek war but would “definitively respond” if Israel became provocative.

Many regional actors have been drawn to this war, including Iran-backed Hamas and Houthis, who just fired a missile into central Israel. Among all this violence, thoughts in Israeli leadership circles start circulating about changes in strategy even whether to hand over some high level defence posts.