Amanpour and Company

I WANT TO BRING IN , ARMY GENERAL AND FORMER HEAD OF THE ARMED SERVICES AND WELCOME BACK TO OUR PROGRAM.

IT IS REALLY GOOD THAT WE HAVE YOU BECAUSE CLEARLY WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND YOUR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT IS THE NEXT DAY'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE FOR THE MILITARY RESPONSE TO HAMAS IN GAZA ?

>> IT WAS THE MOST SEVERE LOW THAT ISRAEL GOT IN ITS EXISTENCE.

MAJOR FAILURE OF INTELLIGENCE AND OPERATION UP TO THE TOP POLITICAL LEADERSHIP.

WE NOW HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT PROPER LOW IN ORDER TO HAVE SUCH AN EVENT TO BE IMPOSSIBLE .

IT CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT CERTAIN RISK OF WIDENING THE CIRCLE TO HELP ALIGN THE NORTH AND .

WE CANNOT PREDICT IT.

-- EASILY DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE THAT HAMAS WILL , TO THESE BARBARIAN ATTACKS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE HOSTAGES?

CAN YOU DO THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY?

DOES ONE HAVE TO HAPPEN FIRST?

WHAT IS THE STRATEGY?

SENSITIVE ISSUE.

OF COURSE IT PUTS A CONSTRAIN ON THE CONSIDERATIONS BUT IT SEEMS TO BE CLEVER TO SHARE THESE NEW ANSWERS BETWEEN ME AND YOU ON TV BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES TO PRINT I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR DISCUSSION.

>> LET ME ASK YOU, HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT THE HOSTAGES SURVIVE?

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR YOU TAKING THE HOSTAGES?

WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC REGION REASON FOR HAMAS DOING THAT?

>> IT IS UNPRECEDENTED, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE , THEIR SUCCESS WENT MUCH BEYOND THEIR EXPECTATIONS, I BELIEVE.

OF COURSE THEY WANT TO GET ALL OF THEIR PRISONERS TO BE FREED.

THEY WILL TRY TO NAVIGATE IT TO ITS END.

IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW IT WILL END .

>> IF IT WAS YOU AND YOU KNOW ISRAEL ENTERED THIS LOPSIDED HOSTAGE EXCHANGE THERE WERE 1100 OR SO PALESTINIANS RELEASED THESE ARE MANY MANY MORE BY A HUGE FACTOR .

WOULD YOU RELEASE ALL THE PRISONERS IN RETURN FOR THESE?

>> FIRST OF ALL ONLY -- HAVE A PASSPORT AND SOME OF THEM ARE GENUINELY FOREIGNERS SOME ARE WORKING, OTHERS ARE AMERICAN, BRITISH OR OTHER NATION PASSPORTS.

I ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD BE READY TO RELEASE THEM.

EVEN IF THERE IS ENOUGH HOSTAGES TO NEGOTIATE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE.

I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD BE CLEVER FOR ME TO DISCUSS WITH YOU THAT'S MY >> I GET IT.

I UNDERSTAND.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN GIVEN WHAT DID HAPPEN.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT MOMENT PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU HAS SAID, NOT JUST TO EXACT REVENGE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT TO CHANGE, TO TOTALLY DECAPITATE AND DECIMATE HAMAS .

THESE ARE THE WORDS WE ARE HEARING AND I ASSUME REMOVE THE MILITARY CAPABILITY INSIDE GAZA.

IN PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS YOU HAVE LEFT THEM THERE.

END GOAL REGARDING THEM.

>> THEY HAVE MOBILIZED SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESERVES ALL OVER THE AREA.

IF THEY DO NOT NEED IT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT BUT IT MIGHT POSSIBLY HAPPEN.

EVEN IF YOU ARE FIGHTING AGAINST , ISRAEL IS NOT UNDER ANY THREAT.

ISRAEL WILL WIN.

WE KNOW HOW TO FIGHT .