Over 50 people are killed in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza in connection with the release of two Israeli hostages.
But according to lieutenant colonel Anders Ekholm, there is not yet any ground offensive in the area.
– This is what we in Swedish would call goal combat, says Ander Ekholm in Efter fem.
For several days, Israel has carried out airstrikes against Rafah, and recently Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to prepare a plan to evacuate the population ahead of an expected ground offensive.
Early on Monday morning, Israel carried out several airstrikes against Rafah in connection with a rescue operation in which they managed to rescue two hostages. In connection with the incident, at least 50 Palestinians were killed.
– You probably have a target list, a target list, of wanted individuals and key capabilities of the opponent. As long as you get over them, you act lightning fast, says lieutenant colonel Anders Ekholm.
“Hostage crucial for Israel”
According to Anders Ekholm, there is not yet a ground offensive in southern Gaza.
– This is what we in Swedish would call goal fighting, that you come across a goal that you judge to be some kind of key in this, says Anders Ekholm.
The hostage is crucial for Israel, says Ekholm, and describes the country as infected by two conflicts it won big: the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War.
– Victory for the Israeli people is an enemy that goes home with its tail between its legs, and that is extremely difficult to achieve in a conflict like this.
Risk of unexpected ground offensive
Ekholm, who is in continuous contact with people with good insight into the military in Israel, says that civilians must be moved from Rafah before any kind of ground offensive is carried out.
– In order not to cause more suffering than you already do, says Anders Ekholm.
At the same time, there is a risk that a ground offensive will begin sooner than expected.
– Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens at a time we didn’t expect at all, precisely because you discover what you’re looking for and that you’ve been chasing since the war began. And then it can’t wait.