All generals plan military operations based on the ten principles of war – rules if you like, which if adhered to will provide the best chance of success. The most important of these principles is the selection and maintenance of an aim.

Even if every Hamas terrorist in Gaza is killed or captured, it is questionable whether that would mean that the group has been truly destroyed

The aim should always be a single, unambiguous and easily understood objective – such as destroying the enemy located on Hill X.