The former director of the CIA, David Petraeus, in an interview for Euronews Albania, spoke about the Israel-Palestine war that began on October 7, where hundreds of people, including children, have died.

Petraeus stressed that Hamas must be destroyed while adding that Israel must come up with a plan after the war.

Petraeus described Hamas as a group that is unable to negotiate or agree.

“What seems clear is that the distraction from Hamas after Israel had created the conditions with air power and drones, they had to go house to house to try to destroy an enemy. I agree with Israel’s leadership that Hamas must be destroyed. This is an extremist group, they are not able to negotiate or agree. They must be destroyed. Israel has something like this in mind. However, I think it would be good if Israel announced a post-conflict plan to take over the governance of Gaza. This war has taken the lives of innocent people,” Petraeus said.

He added that civilian casualties will be inevitable if it is fought in urban areas.

“I am afraid that Hamas will use explosive devices, there will be various traps, various bridges will blow up, there will be people who will blow themselves up to kill Israelis. There will be reports of civilians killed and that is inevitable. This is a much more difficult fight than the ones we have faced before. There will be loss of civilians, it is something inevitable”, former CIA director emphasized.

Further he underlined that he does not think Iran will engage in a direct attack with the US.

“Iran is clearly providing equipment, training, financing various groups, giving them ammunition. In some cases he is even directing them. It is the same with Hezbollah and further with other groups in South Lebanon. If it is done in this way they will be hit even harder than in 2006. I don’t think Iran will engage in a direct attack with the US. Therefore, it has always tried to do this with some external elements in Gaza, in Lebanon, in Iraq and in Syria,” said David Petraeus.