If Israel is to finally remove the deadly threat posed by Hamas, it must aim for the total annihilation of that terrorist organisation. On all occasions in the past when it has been at war with its enemies, it has been forced to accept an armistice just at the point when it seemed to be achieving a crushing victory in the conflict.
The War of Independence in 1948, when Egyptian, Syrian, Transjordanian and Iraqi armies attacked Israel, ended with a ceasefire and an armistice in 1949.
Despite their military success against Egypt in 1956, Israel, Britain and France were forced, under pressure from America, to withdraw from the Suez Canal.
During the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel was on the point of achieving a resounding victory against its enemies when the United Nations Security Council called for a ceasefire on 7 July. Israel and Jordan immediately accepted, closely followed by Syria and Egypt.
In 1973, on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, Egypt and Syria carried out a sneak attack on Israel. Again, the Israelis were prevailing when the UN Security Council called for a ceasefire under Resolutions 339 and 340. This was accepted by both sides.
