Israel determined to 'crush Hamas' despite calls for ceasefire
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00:00 I think the message is being heard.
00:02 It's not like Israelis aren't aware of what's going on in the rest of the world.
00:06 They know there was a big vote in the UN General Assembly.
00:10 They know that, apart from the United States, most countries around the world now want a
00:15 ceasefire, support a ceasefire.
00:18 But does that mean they're ready to stop the offensive?
00:21 No, I don't think so.
00:22 I think Israelis are determined, with their government, at the moment, and for the most
00:27 part, to pursue the ground offensive until the aid of crushing Hamas is achieved.
00:34 There is quite clearly a growing divide between Israel and the United States on this, and
00:39 that causes concern in Israel, but for the moment, not sufficient concern for them to
00:45 want to back down.
00:47 It's interesting, though, that one of the key issues, what happens after the war if
00:52 Hamas is defeated, the divide between Israel and the United States is also growing wider.
00:59 And on this particular question, I think Israeli society is probably more divided.
01:06 What do you do, for instance, in Gaza?
01:09 Do the Israeli defense forces stay there, or do they withdraw?
01:13 The message coming from the Israeli leadership at the moment, including the armed forces,
01:18 is that at the very least, once the fighting is over, that the Israeli army will stay in
01:24 the north of Gaza for an indefinite period of time, because they say it's too risky to
01:30 withdraw because of the potential threat to kibbutzis just outside, just across the border
01:36 from Gaza.
01:37 On that issue, I think Israeli society is more divided.
01:40 And once the war is over, that crack may become more pronounced.