WASHINGTON − According to current and former U.S. officials, Israel has made significant progress in its military objectives against Hamas in Gaza, but it is unlikely to fully eradicate the militant group by perpetuating combat efforts that have resulted in an estimated 40,000 deaths.

This evaluation comes as fresh ceasefire negotiations for Gaza began in Doha on Thursday, with CIA Director William Burns participating alongside the heads of Israeli and Egyptian intelligence, while Hamas representatives were excluded from these discussions.

The backdrop for these talks includes the alarming number of civilian deaths in Gaza and the potential for a retaliatory strike from Iran following the assassination of a high-ranking Hamas figure in Tehran last month. Iranian officials have warned that a ceasefire could lessen their anticipated response to this killing, which they attribute to Israel.

Edward Djerejian, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, shared with YSL News that “the Biden administration aims to prevent the Gaza conflict from escalating into a broader regional conflict involving the U.S.”

Death Toll in Gaza Exceeds 40,000, According to Palestinian Authorities

As talks proceeded, violence in Gaza persisted, with Palestinian health officials reporting that at least six individuals were killed due to an Israeli airstrike on a residence in Jabalia, northern Gaza. The confirmed death toll of over 40,000 has been characterized as a “grim milestone for the world” by U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk.

Despite ongoing U.S. military support for Israel, there are voices among officials expressing doubts about whether Israel’s military strategy has reached its limits in Gaza.

Following a ten-month period during which militants from Gaza conducted assaults in southern Israel, claiming around 1,200 lives, Israel is seen as having largely accomplished its military objectives in the coastal region, according to U.S. sources talking to YSL News.

Israel has taken control of lands from Hamas in Gaza and has significantly diminished the operational effectiveness of Hamas combat units. Officials who spoke anonymously indicated that achieving any further security improvements will necessitate diplomatic efforts instead of continued air strikes.

Officials noted that experiences from the U.S. conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq highlighted that defeating organized forces like the Taliban and Saddam Hussein’s military does not guarantee lasting peace. They emphasized that the ideology supporting Hamas can only be countered through non-military means.

‘Total Victory’ is an Illusion’

While continuing to target Hamas fighters and leaders may yield short-term gains for Israel, a U.S. official warned that without establishing a post-conflict government that offers hope to Palestinians, attacks against Israel are likely to persist.

Nevertheless, Israel perceives an ongoing military threat in Gaza, and top Israeli leaders maintain their stance of not ceasing operations until the threat is totally eradicated.

Djerejian remarked, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aspirations, “There’s a divide within the Israeli government regarding what constitutes ‘total victory.’ In the context of the Gaza conflict, total victory is unattainable.”

Mark Quantock, a retired Army general and former Central Command chief of intelligence, remarked on the difficulty and peril involved in eliminating terrorist groups from urban areas in Gaza.

“I remain skeptical about the belief that military efforts alone can completely eradicate Hamas as a terror threat,” Quantock conveyed to YSL News. “Like many other terrorist groups, it’s extremely challenging to neutralize them entirely – or even a majority of them.”

Civilian Casualties and Long-lasting Grudges

Even if the reported fatalities are only half of the 40,000 estimated by Palestinian officials, Quantock suggested that Israel may be unwittingly generating a new generation of Hamas supporters by this conflict.

“It’s certainly a grim outlook, but the killing of civilians fosters deep resentment,” said Quantock. “People do not easily forgive the deaths of their loved ones. It’s a lasting hurt.”

In December, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin advised that Israel might face “strategic defeat” due to the rising civilian casualties in Gaza. “In this conflict, the civilian population is the core issue,” Austin stated at that time. “If you push them towards the enemy, a tactical win could turn into a strategic loss.”

On Thursday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby indicated that despite any reservations expressed privately in Washington, the U.S. would persist in its military and political support for Israel.

Kirby stated that while Israel’s military has accomplished “the vast majority of its goals,” Hamas continues to embrace an ideology that wrongly believes the events of October 7 could recur. “Therefore, we will continue to ensure that Israel has the resources needed to defend against this threat,” he added.

It remains uncertain what advancements were made on Thursday during the ceasefire negotiations involving U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk, Israel’s Mossad head David Barnea, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. Hamas representatives were waiting to hear Israel’s terms.

“The final challenges can be addressed, and we must finalize this process,” Kirby urged.

A primary objective of the ceasefire discussions is to facilitate the return of more than 100 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 and to secure the release of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.

Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of hindering the agreement that was initially laid out by President Joe Biden in June.

In Gaza, locals prayed for an end to the conflict.

“We’ve had enough; we want to return to our homes in Gaza City. Families are being killed, and houses are being bombed every hour,” stated Aya, 30, who is currently taking shelter with her family in central Gaza.

“We are hopeful this time. It feels like it’s now or never, I’m afraid,” she said to Reuters.

After more than ten months of airstrikes and displacement, many are beginning to feel a sense of hopelessness.

“There’s a general feeling that the determination to end this war is lacking,” expressed Federico Dessi, the Middle East director for the aid organization Humanity and Inclusion. “The situation is quite dire.”