As the war in the Gaza Strip continues, Israel’s international legitimacy is eroding, its global standing is deteriorating, the IDF is being worn down, and divisions within Israeli society are widening. Escaping this deadlock requires a paradigmatic shift that moves beyond the narrow thinking of only two options (as defined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu): either a full occupation of the Strip or capitulation to Hamas, which would remain in power, in exchange for the release of the hostages. However, there is another option—one...
The impression emerging from the widespread discussions in the media and on Arab satellite channels not identified with the Islamist stream is that, in launching the war on October 7, 2023, Hamas essentially dug a pit for itself and for other resistance movements across the Middle East. The growing anger toward Hamas—given the immense human suffering in the Gaza Strip, the destruction it has caused, and its failure to achieve the goals it claimed to be pursuing—has led most critics, including those close to the organization, to...
The consequences of the tsunami of international recognition of a Palestinian state largely depend on the Israeli government’s response. Most of the negative consequences of this increasing wave already exist, and broad international recognition could intensify them. Should the Israeli government choose a harsh retaliatory path—such as occupying the Gaza Strip, promoting the idea of “voluntary emigration” of Gazan residents, or applying Israeli sovereignty over territories in Judea and Samaria and Gaza’s security perimeter—it would...
In the war in the Gaza Strip, Israel faces a choice between three strategic alternatives: continuing to pursue a ceasefire agreement to secure the release of some of the hostages while adhering to the goal of dismantling and disarming Hamas; agreeing to end the war under Hamas’s terms in exchange for the release of all the hostages; or occupying the Strip and imposing a temporary military administration, with the hope that this will also result in the release of the hostages. Each of these options involves significant costs alongside...
The long duration of the campaign in the Gaza Strip, the difficulty in achieving a decisive outcome, and the immense scale of Israeli forces involved—all stem directly from the unique underground challenge in this arena. This has significant implications, not only for the current state of the war in the Gaza Strip but also for the situation that will emerge after the war.
Once the Israeli-Iranian exchange of blows ended impressively, the question of continuing the war in the Gaza Strip has returned to the center of public controversy in Israel, inextricably tied to the issue of the remaining hostages still held by Hamas. Disagreements and differing predictions about the future—always marked by uncertainty—are legitimate. So too are the value-based differences that guide decision-making, for which no objective resolution exists—only a decision about what norms to adopt and what not to, after weighing...
In light of the dramatic shift in the balance of power in the region following the confrontation between Israel and Iran—the restoration of Israeli deterrence; the open motivation of US President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war; the weakening of the resistance axis and its non-state actors; Hamas’s weakened and isolated state, dependent on the mercy of mediator states; the willingness of Arab states to engage and assist in stabilizing Gaza without Hamas rule—a window of opportunity has emerged to close the circle of war that...
Since the renewal of fighting in the Gaza Strip, Gaza’s internal front has shown notable signs of change. Feelings of rage, despair, and a growing lack of trust in Hamas’s military and civilian leadership are laying the foundation for an internal uprising that could shake the political balance in the Strip. The slogan “Their lives are not worth more than our lives” reflects a fundamental shift in perception and a breaking of the barrier of fear. Demonstrators have been seen raising white flags—a clear symbol of surrender. Signs of...
As part of the reforms recently announced by Mahmoud Abbas, the PLO Central Council approved the appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh as deputy chairman of the organization—a position that did not previously exist. This step reflects Abbas’s response to pressure exerted by Arab states, chiefly Saudi Arabia, as well as other countries including the United States, in light of the complex ramifications of the war in the Gaza Strip and Abbas’s own intense anger—shared by Arab governments and Arab media—toward Hamas. This move is also likely...
The Israeli government has authorized the IDF to finalize preparations for “Gideon’s Chariots”—a plan to conquer the Gaza Strip and defeat Hamas, concentrate the population of the Strip in its southern region, and encourage emigration from it. The execution of this plan would come at a heavy cost: the killing of hostages and the loss of information regarding their whereabouts; additional casualties within the IDF; a decreasing likelihood of achieving normalization with Saudi Arabia; a deepening of internal divisions in Israel due to...
Tensions during the month of Ramadan, which took place from February 27 to March 29, stem from a number of factors that influenced the dynamics between Israel and the Palestinians. First, the religious importance of Ramadan leads to a significant increase in the number of Muslim worshippers seeking to access the holy sites, particularly the al-Aqsa Mosque. This increase in the number of worshippers creates complex logistical and security challenges. Second, the month of Ramadan is a time of a heightened emotional and religious...
