‘Destruction of Gaza’ would send a message to Israel’s rival nations to ‘give up’

Former CIA chief of counterterrorist operations John Kiriakou says he thinks Israel’s idea was to “destroy all of Gaza” so everybody in a state of conflict would “give up”.

Mr Kiriakou’s comments come as Israel continues its major military offensive in Rafah.

According to Gaza health authorities, more than 34,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.

“Even in the best of times, there was only enough fuel in Gaza to allow for five or six hours of electricity every day, the water’s not potable, what few hospitals remain can’t operate more than an hour or two a day with electricity,” Mr Kiriakou told Sky News Australia.

“Between fuel, and water, and medicine, and food – it’s a disaster area.”

The former CIA chief of counterterrorist operations said he doesn’t think Hamas as an organisation “can be defeated”.

“It’s too nebulous,” he said.

“I think the idea was to destroy all of Gaza that everybody in a state of conflict with Israel would just give up.”

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