‘The only path to victory is to fully dismantle Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.’
By Hezy Laing
After nearly two years of war, Col. (res.) Hezi Nehama has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the IDF’s current strategy against Hamas, sharply condemning what he sees as stagnation on the ground in Gaza.
With decades of experience in IDF operations, his analysis carries both authority and frustration.
Col. Nehama believes the war against Hamas can be won—and won swiftly—but only through a decisive and aggressive strategy that goes beyond the current approach.
He is deeply critical of the cautious tactics now being employed and advocates for a forceful ground campaign with fewer restraints.
According to him, the only path to victory is to fully dismantle Hamas’s military and governing capabilities—not simply degrade them.
He also argues that Hezbollah’s weakened posture in the north makes it possible for Israel to shift forces southward, thereby enabling a full-scale ground operation in Gaza.
Nehama has proposed a strategy that includes deploying four to five IDF divisions simultaneously across northern, central, and southern Gaza; occupying every area and eliminating Hamas fighters; relocating civilians to humanitarian zones to isolate Hamas; and enforcing a complete blockade of Hamas-controlled areas.
He has also criticized the IDF’s limited use of siege tactics, suggesting that failing to fully block access to Hamas-held zones allows the group to regroup and rearm.
In a recent radio interview, Nehama said, “The IDF Legal Counsel’s radical interpretation of international law forces the IDF to provide humanitarian supplies even in areas controlled by Hamas—something not required by law.
The result: Hamas controls the supplies, and in these areas we’re not fighting. It’s a dead end.”
Hamas then resells these supplies to fund its war efforts against the IDF, he added.
Nehama remains confident that a quick victory is achievable—but only if Israel adopts a clear, forceful, and uncompromising strategy.
