Gen. Petraeus: Israel needs to hold Gaza for foreseeable future
Top American expert says he knows that will be a challenge, but there is no alternative if Israel wants security
Forrmer head of the CIA David Petraeus (R) with former head of the Shin Bet Nadav Argaman , March 7, 2024.
Former CIA Chief General David Petraeus recommends Israel adopt a “clear and hold” strategy in Gaza, rather than the targeted raids it is currently carrying out. In contrast to the Biden Administration, which wants Israel out of Gaza in the very near future, Petraeus advocates staying on the ground in Gaza until absolute security is achieved, no matter how long that takes.
In addition to formerly heading the CIA, Gen. Petraeus previously served as commander of the US Central Command, commander of the multinational force in Iraq, and commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. He shared his assessment of the current situation in Israel during a podcast interview with the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI).
Petraeus, known for his extensive experience in counterterrorism in urban civilian environments, shared insights from the Iraq war, emphasizing the need for Israel to adopt a similar strategy in Gaza: “If you enter, destroy the enemy, and then leave, a vacuum inevitably forms, allowing the enemy to recover.” Petraeus suggested that Israel stay on the ground and not leave for the time being.
“This is the only practical approach I see,” Petraeus said, outlining the principles of the strategy. According to him, the “clear and hold” strategy consists of three main stages:
- Clearing the area of terrorist elements;
- Maintaining a sustained military presence to prevent hostile forces from returning; and
- Rebuilding – constructing infrastructure and services for the local population.
In a conversation with JPPI researcher Noah Slepkov, Petraeus emphasized that implementing this strategy in Gaza would be challenging, but necessary. “You need to ensure a security mechanism, and only Israel can do that,” he said. “Then gradually, starting in the north and likely moving south, you create controlled zones every few kilometers.” He added that only after fully establishing security can humanitarian aid, infrastructure reconstruction, and the return of residents take place. In a later phase, control could be handed over to Palestinian security forces, under Israeli supervision. “There is no alternative to this,” he stressed, adding that the foundation for everything is ensuring security as a prerequisite for all other steps.
He further stated that there is no realistic chance that U.S. or Arab forces will enter Gaza to secure the area or engage in rebuilding efforts before the IDF guarantees full security in the strip.
Regarding the October 7 attack, Petraeus described it as “the worst failure of intelligence, military preparedness, and political and analytical assessment in Israeli history.” He noted that misjudgments about Hamas’s intentions and capabilities, along with a false sense of security, contributed to the catastrophic lack of preparedness.
War in Lebanon
The general also addressed the challenges Israel faces with Hezbollah in the north, as well as the morality of warfare. Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah, he said, are responsible for the deaths of both combatants and civilians, particularly in the wake of Nasrallah’s assassination, following a year of daily attacks on innocent civilians in Israel.
He described the Mossad-attributed operation against Hezbollah commanders, involving the detonation of pagers and communication devices, as an “extraordinary achievement” that significantly damaged Hezbollah’s command and control capabilities. He called it an unprecedented operation in terms of sophistication and creativity: “A Trojan horse on steroids, and even beyond that,” as he put it.
However, Petraeus cautioned that Hezbollah still poses a significant threat, with a large stockpile of missiles and rockets.
Petraeus concluded by saying that the region’s challenges require a long-term strategy that combines military actions with diplomatic efforts and economic development. He emphasized that only by creating stable and lasting security can the process of rebuilding and development in Gaza truly begin, ultimately leading to a sustainable peace in the Middle East.
1 comment:
It is not unusual for a military decision to have a political component.
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