An Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip and toppling Hamas' regime are unlikely to change the situation in the coastal enclave dramatically, GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi said Sunday in an interview with a local radio station.
"Hamas will continue to try us from time to time. I don't think we'll be seeing peace there [in Gaza] anytime in the next decade, perhaps even longer," he said.
Commenting on the Egyptian-led efforts to broker a long-term cease-fire between Israel and the Islamist terrorist group, Halevi said, "War is also a type of arrangement in which both parties agree to fight and reach a result that is different from the prior reality. Our interests are very clear – achieving security for the Israeli public."
He noted that Israel does not pursue direct diplomatic efforts vis-à-vis Hamas.
"We use our [military] power and the deterrence we generate to get the other side to understand it has nothing to gain by carrying out terrorist attacks against us.
"The IDF is well-prepared for these scenarios. I think our enemies, both in the north and in the south, will struggle to provoke an escalation because of the IDF's abilities, but even if that happens, the IDF will be able to cope – even with two sectors simultaneously," he said.
Halevi further said that the Israeli public "should not delude itself in terms of their [the Palestinians'] terrorist capabilities. There are terrorist entities here that are developing their capabilities. We are bigger and stronger, but there will be times when they try us."
The GCO Southern Command also said that an Israeli takeover of the Gaza Strip would not necessarily improve on the current security situation on the volatile border.
"I don't see how this would improve our security situation at the moment. If we are ordered – we know how to get it done, we know how to seize control of Gaza, but I'm not sure that is the first option we should pursue," Halevi said.
