In the shadow of the October 7 massacre and the subsequent war that erupted in the Gaza Strip, Israel and Egypt recently marked the 45th anniversary of signing the peace accord between the two countries. While the events of the past few months have presented Israel and Egypt with a formidable test, the repercussions of this situation have not exceeded the traditional ambivalence that characterizes their relationship. Although the public and official discourse on both sides has been full of inflammatory, hostile, wary, and mistrustful...
There are more holes than substance in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s document detailing his plan for “the day after” Hamas’s rule in the Gaza Strip. Even if Israel achieves its stated goals of the war—the release of the hostages, toppling Hamas’s regime, and dismantling its armed wing—no magic solution will bring stability and rebuilding to Gaza. Unlike the Israeli prime minister’s vision, a renewed Palestinian Authority returning to power in Gaza is the default option for Israel, especially in terms of the United States and...
On January 21, 2024, Hamas published a document in English bearing the title “Our Narrative—Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.” The document is a narrative replete with false or partially true images and figures, devoid of historical context and references to religious sources or rulings, and fails to mention Hamas’s allegiance to the Muslim Brotherhood. The document also does not address how Hamas perceives itself as leading not only the armed struggle of the Palestinian people against Israel but also the Islamic nation on its way to...
At the current stage of combat, Israel needs a combination of two approaches: (1) achieving full control over the northern Gaza Strip; and (2) hermetically sealing the Philadelphi corridor, which is used for smuggling, as a practical solution to prevent Hamas and other terrorist groups from rearming. Separating northern Gaza from the rest of the Strip, preventing Hamas from recovering, and at the same time, encouraging the emergence of a local leadership that is not afraid of Hamas (because the IDF has military control of the...
Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, there has been very little security-related news coming out of East Jerusalem. This is in stark contrast to the growing security challenges in the West Bank and to previous campaigns involving Israel and Hamas, in which there were clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians not only on the streets of East Jerusalem and at the al-Aqsa Mosque, but also in Israeli cities such as Acre and Bat Yam. This article offers reasons that may explain this discrepancy....
Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip monitor developments in Israel closely, while weighing and refining the organization’s suspension and attrition strategy. Their goal is to bring an end to the war while ensuring the survival of Hamas as both a military and governmental entity within the Gaza Strip; that to them would be the essence of victory. The more optimistic the Hamas leadership becomes, the less inclined it is to demonstrate flexibility or consider proposals that could potentially end the war, signaling the demise of their...
The Israeli government vehemently opposes the position of the United States, the international community, and the pragmatic Arab countries, which see a revitalized Palestinian Authority as the only element able to rule the Gaza Strip following the defeat of the Hamas government. Israel’s objection has three possible ramifications: Israel will be forced to govern the Gaza Strip; there will be chaos in the Strip leading to Hamas’s renewed growth; or the United States and the international community will impose on Israel a reality of...
At a meeting in Cairo in early June 2023, Egypt presented leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad the framework for a hudna in the Gaza Strip, i.e., a long-term ceasefire. Israel is not officially involved in the initiative, which would bring it some clear benefits, including prolonged security calm and Cairo’s willingness for deeper involvement in Gaza. These benefits are not obviated by the fact that Hamas would also benefit from the initiative, which includes plans for broader infrastructure and economic projects, providing the...
On May 9, 2023, the IDF fired the opening shots in Operation Shield and Arrow, when in targeted killings it killed three senior members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad: the commander of the organization in the northern Gaza Strip, the secretary general of the PIJ military council, and a senior commander responsible for directing terror arracks in the West Bank. Ten other people were killed in the attacks, including women and children. The civilian deaths prompted discussion of the specific operation and whether it met the rules of...
With the end of Operation Shield and Arrow – the most recent round fought between Israel and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip – talk of a hudna or an extended arrangement at the Israel-Gaza border resurfaced. The discourse is driven by the fact that as in the two previous rounds, Hamas did not take an active part. Nonetheless, is highly doubtful that Hamas’s non-intervention is an indication of its desire for quiet. More likely, it points, rather, to new understandings with the resistance front, whereby all elements can be involved,...
Another exchange of blows in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Islamic Jihad ended with Egyptian mediation. Israel once again initiated a military operation, seizing an opportunity to attack senior Islamic Jihad figures, while allowing Hamas, which in practice rules the Gaza Strip, to avoid responsibility for what occurs there. Militarily, Israel saw operational success, both offensively and defensively. However, politically, Israel allowed Hamas to set the rules of the game, continue to enjoy the fruits of its arrangement with...
A part of the current regional detente between countries and organizations in the Middle East is the growing closeness between Saudi Arabia and Hamas, evidenced by the recent visit of Hamas leaders to the Kingdom and the release of Hamas prisoners held there. In principle, rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Hamas should not affect the normalization process, as long as Israel is perceived as a stable democratic actor that contributes to regional security and stability.
