“There is no doubt that Hamas’ goal in launching an unprecedented terrorist war was not just to control Gaza and kill civilians, the organization wanted to destabilize the area.” General Claudio Graziano, former Chief of Defense Staff and former president of the European Union Military Committee, told Sky TG24, adding that now “all actions must be aimed at stopping the violence, involving the Arab countries and allowing the arrival of aid. It is a dramatic situation and is connected to what is happening in Lebanon”
(THE SPECIAL ON THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS – WHAT IS HAMAS – THE CAUSES OF THE CONFLICT – THE HISTORICAL REASONS – WHAT IS HEZBOLLAH – WHAT ARE THE KIBBUTZ).
“Avoid escalation”
Graziano said he is “optimistic at the moment because there is a common mission to avoid escalation and Iran does not seem willing to enter the field”. For the general, “the support of the United States is important, but there must also be a united response from Europe, as was done for Ukraine. The two wars are connected by the level of violence they brought, but Israel’s war is different because it is against terrorism. We must maintain calm and help the civilian population.” Still on the protection of the civilian population, Graziano stated that “the Israelis are excellent planners and know that the Hamas attack has been planned for months. Not only the attack, but also the 30 days following it. Israel has the right to defend itself, but there cannot be a pass to kill civilians. In my opinion, a land-based, kinetic action will develop but in terms and ways to eliminate the escalation or at least this is the hope.”
“Now we are at one crisis a year”
According to Graziano “it is certainly a conflict that will not be short-lived, therefore spatial containability is essential. A European and US operation is needed in support of Israel and moderate Palestinians to contain the conflict. We are now in a crisis at year: in 2021 in Afghanistan, in 2022 in Ukraine and this year the Middle East. There are connections between wars, conflicts reverberate and threats exist for everyone.” The general recalled that in Ukraine there were “300 thousand deaths, if European support ceased, evil would win. We need to concentrate on all aspects, woe betide us forgetting Ukraine because if Russia were to win, other fronts could be rekindled”. For Graziano we are far from resolving the situation in Ukraine and “peace is still distant, a peace table is very far from being achieved. Once upon a time there was a crisis every 10 years, now every year”. Regarding the attack on the hospital in Gaza, the general underlined that “rockets and missiles are complicated to determine, at this moment an explanation is difficult. Certainly the rocket launch would not have happened without the Hamas attack on the 7th October. War naturally creates damage to the civilian population”.
Source-tg24.sky.it