How to Win a War

The ceasefire and return of hostages are Israel's doing

(Trump and other leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13th to announce a ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli leaders were not present.)

As countries fall over one another to receive accolades and praise for the ceasefire agreement formalized yesterday in Sharm el-Sheikh, it is important to understand why only one state really deserves credit for this result.

The hostages taken by Hamas during their terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7^th, 2023 have only been released because for two years Israel has fought and won a comprehensive victory over Hamas and its enablers.

Israel defined and achieved three major goals.

First, they destroyed Hamas as a military force, initially by taking out Hamas’ ability to launch large-scale missile attacks or further terrorist assaults on Israel. Then the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) targeted the Hamas order of battle, one battalion at a time, reducing it to ten percent of its former size. These operations included major offensives against Hamas strongholds in Gaza City, culminating in Operation Gideon’s Chariots I and II, which began in May and August.