Israeli minister: 'We lost a strategic battle in Gaza'

Israeli Tourism Minister Uzi Landau said yesterday that the Israeli occupation army had failed in achieving the aims of the Israeli war on Gaza.

Speaking to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, he said: “We lost a strategic battle in front of the Gaza Strip.”

Landau added: “The deterrence power of the Israeli army has eroded dramatically. During the last 26 days, the army carried out air, ground and naval attack against Hamas, but it did not succeed to treat it.”

The minister said that Israel was hesitant to tackle the issue with Hamas, saying this was a “destructive message for the Israeli deterrence power”.

He suggested that US President Barack Obama learn the lesson and believe that there is no room to talk to “terrorists”.