# What are each side's short-term military objectives in the current Israel/Gaza conflict? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749 "2021-05-23T17:48:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749/1 "2021-05-23T17:48:48Z")
There’s a whole thread on this (which I’ve only read part of), but I’m putting this in GQ because I’m looking for any potential outcomes in the _current_ hostilities that either side can realistically hope to achieve with military action. Has either side **stated** their concrete short-term military objectives this go-round? By “current,” I mean in the last month or so. I know the long-term objective of each side is to do away with the opposing entity altogether. Also not asking here about political objectives/solutions, as those aren’t really short-term, and if ever achieved, it won’t be with bombs and rockets. Neither side can realistically hope for the other side to surrender, cave in, or, in fact, to eventually just permanently stop fighting or fighting _back_. Maybe there is no answer to this specific question. If it belongs in IMHO, so be it, but it’s likely to go quickly off the rails there… ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749/2 "2021-05-23T18:36:50Z")
Obviously there has been a cease fire now. I do not believe Hamas has any military objectives in shooting rockets at Israel, it has political objectives. Hamas does not believe it can militarily do much to Israel directly. Israel’s goals were to basically do things they’ve been wanting to do for years but could not do without violating previous cease fires. Kill top Hamas leaders they regularly track, and destroy as many underground munitions tunnels as they can find. The tunnels were probably the IDF’s biggest targets because they take time and money to rebuild and replenish, so anything done there does genuinely degrade Hamas’ weapons supplies for a time. There’s not really any finality to it obviously. I would say Israel’s goals militarily were fairly limited. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749/3 "2021-05-23T18:54:55Z")
I agree with Martin\_Hyde. I do think Hamas achieved their main goal which is to demonstrate relevance to their population. By hitting a few Israeli targets, which they did, they show to their people they aren’t completely helpless. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749/4 "2021-05-23T19:38:15Z")
> [@rbroome](#): > > I do think Hamas achieved their main goal which is to demonstrate relevance to their population. Again, trying to be careful, because I agree this is more IMHO territory as we don’t have factual statements regarding specific objectives - but **rboome** and **Martin\_Hyde** before are in agreement with my reading of the circumstances. As seen many times before in politics, it’s better to be seen as doing _something_ rather than being passive, whether or not the outcome is positive. For Hamas, that’s proving to their population that they’re striking back, and a viable threat to Israel, and thus deserving of support. For Israel, it’s crippling Hamas, whether it be by killing leaders, destroying infrastructure while happily selling the conflict to their own population. Going to strenuously avoid going over my opinions on the reasons of what is going on and timing, but that is waaaay beyond the scope of even an IMHO like General question, but found an article that spoke to me on the subject that I thought I’d share. > **[Both Israel and Hamas are aiming to look strong, instead of finding a way out...](https://theconversation.com/both-israel-and-hamas-are-aiming-to-look-strong-instead-of-finding-a-way-out-of-their-endless-war-160962)** > > In most wars, each side’s aggression is meant to get the other side to back down. But that’s not the case with how Israeli and Palestinian leaders have conducted their long-running war. The full title of the article, especially if a preview doesn’t load is _Both Israel and Hamas are aiming to look strong, instead of finding a way out of their endless war_ Which pretty much says it all to me. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749/5 "2021-05-23T19:44:04Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I do not believe Hamas has any military objectives in shooting rockets at Israel, it has political objectives. Hamas does not believe it can militarily do much to Israel directly. I think that we would also have to take into account Netanyahu’s personal political objectives if we are going down this road. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749/6 "2021-05-23T19:58:52Z")
Being in GQ I was working to not comment too much on politics. I believe it is factual that Israel had some military objectives in the recent flare up, Israeli politics was also involved but discussion beyond that seems outside the bounds of GQ. I believe it is factual Hamas did not have any specific military goals. Hamas are not particularly ignorant of the relative military power disparity between them and Israel, they were well aware firing unguided rockets into Israel proper was unlikely to do much in a military sense. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749/7 "2021-05-23T20:08:56Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Both Israel and Hamas are aiming to look strong, instead of finding a way out of their endless war Okay, thanks. I can see that. It’s a sort of Grand Guignol\* – although with real deaths not special effects. That’s an oversimplification, but helpful to my understanding. > [@madmonk28](#): > > I think that we would also have to take into account Netanyahu’s personal political objectives if we are going down this road. A completely reasonable path for discussion, just not in this thread. > [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Being in GQ I was working to not comment too much on politics. I thank you for that. I appreciate everyone fighting back the impulse to inject politics into a discussion that reeks of politics. Well done. * * * > - Grand Gui·gnol > /ˌɡrän ɡēnˈyôl/ > _noun_ > > 1. a dramatic entertainment of a sensational or horrific nature, originally a sequence of short pieces as performed at the Grand Guignol theater in Paris. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749/8 "2021-05-23T22:36:14Z")
This article gives some objectives for both sides > **[Explained | Israel-Hamas ceasefire](https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/explained-israel-hamas-ceasefire/article34614354.ece)** > > In a ground attack, Israel could inflict more damage on Hamas, but the risk of losing Israeli soldiers would also be high. Israel: > Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were two ways to deal with Hamas — one, to conquer Hamas and the other to establish deterrence. The Prime Minister said his aim was “forceful deterrence”, but conquering was “an open possibility”. Israeli military leaders have claimed that they have killed 225 members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad — a contested claim as the Gaza Health Ministry says 232 Gazans were killed in Israeli strikes, including 66 children. Israel has also claimed that it has destroyed Hamas’s elaborate tunnel network and military and intelligence infrastructure. ‘We have set Hamas back by years,” said Mr. Netanyahu. Hamas: > [@](#): > > By launching the rocket attacks on May 10, hours after Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, Hamas was seen to be making a political point — it is the real defender of Jerusalem. In effect, Hamas was trying to tap the growing Palestinian resentment towards Israel’s high-handedness. The political messaging appeared to have gone down well with the Palestinians as Israel faced unprecedented protests and riots both in the occupied West Bank and Israeli cities when the Gaza attack was under way. > > Militarily, Hamas, despite the heavy losses it suffered, demonstrated its growing rocket fire capabilities…By launching barrages of rockets within minutes, it also managed to overwhelm Israel’s Iron Dome defence system. And most importantly, both sides have said this: > Israeli leaders say there won’t be lasting peace as long as Hamas has rockets. Hamas says there will be rockets as long as the occupation continues. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749/9 "2021-05-23T23:02:22Z")
Very helpful! Your posts are always so informative, @mikecurtis > [@mikecurtis](#): > > Israeli leaders say there won’t be lasting peace as long as Hamas has rockets. Hamas says there will be rockets as long as the occupation continues. Right. So goes the deadly hamster wheel. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-each-sides-short-term-military-objectives-in-the-current-israel-gaza-conflict/942749/10 "2021-05-23T23:09:22Z")
Well, not always, but I try. Thanks for the kind words.