The West Bank arena is in the middle of a conceptual and practical transformation. Under the cover of the essential requirement of “absolute security,” the government is advancing a policy of applying Israeli sovereignty, blocking pathways to a future political settlement, weakening the Palestinian Authority to the point of collapse, and pushing Palestinians out of their places of residence. This policy effectively adopts the principles of the “Decisive Plan” promoted by the government’s ideological right and rooted in the doctrine...
The developing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz positions the strait as one of the central arenas of friction in the current conflict and as a focal point of a crisis with global implications. A sustained disruption of traffic in the strait, even without a full closure, is not merely a tactical move but a broader blow to the international order. Its strategic importance and unique status expand the arena of friction beyond the direct parties to the current conflict. This means that the struggle over freedom of passage in the strait is...
Since the war that erupted on October 7, a profound crisis has unfolded in Turkish–Israeli relations. One of the main manifestations of this crisis is the legal campaign Turkey is waging against Israel. Turkey is operating in this arena to entrench a lasting narrative of Israel’s culpability while refusing to recognize its security needs vis-à-vis a murderous terrorist organization and by portraying Israel as having violated international law, an act that must be punished. The Turkish moves have implications that go beyond the damage...
The Board of Peace was initially conceived as a focused initiative intended to support the stabilization and reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip, as part of President Trump’s 20-Point Plan, which was anchored in the UN Security Council Resolution 2803. However, a review of its charter indicates a substantial deviation from its original purpose: the board is now defined as a global conflict-resolution mechanism outside the UN framework, with no reference to Gaza and no limitation to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. This gap...
Since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip, humanitarian aid has played a dual role: it is both a life-saving necessity for the Palestinian population suffering from severe and ongoing hardship and a flashpoint for disputes and struggles between competing interests. This article presents the developments in the humanitarian arena during the months of war, as well as the discussions and controversies that have emerged in this complex and charged context, divided into three distinct periods. Each period reflects a shift in the aid...
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...
In May, the IDF launched Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” aimed at achieving the war’s objectives in the Gaza Strip: securing the return of the hostages and dismantling Hamas both militarily and politically. The full scope of the “Gideon’s Chariots” operational plan remains unclear, and contradictions have emerged between statements made by military officials and political leaders. It is also uncertain whether there is genuine intent to carry out all phases of the operation; some of the announcements may be...
On November 21, 2024, nearly six months after Prosecutor Karim Khan submitted a request for arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber approved the request and issued the warrants. At the same time, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Hamas commander, Mohammed Deif, who was reportedly killed in July, although his death has not yet been officially confirmed. For Israel, this decision to issue the warrants establishes a...
Israel has utilized its military action in the Gaza Strip and has successfully dismantled the military arm of Hamas. However, it has not achieved the release of the hostages, and it has not destroyed—or at least neutralized—Hamas’s control over Gaza. In response, several generals in the IDF reserves recently proposed a plan for taking control of northern Gaza, evacuating the civilian population, and laying siege to the area (the “Generals’ Plan”). While the plan contributes to the ongoing debate about the future control of Gaza, it...
Since the beginning of the war, the UN has been releasing reports and updates regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza, showing a dire picture of a shortage of humanitarian aid, a severe nutritional crisis, and even the spread of famine in the area. A close examination of these reports, based on the UN’s own clarifications, shows that they portray an inaccurate and partial picture of the aid entering the Gaza Strip. The reports are based on incomplete data from sources in Gaza and disregard significant portions of aid shipments...
On January 26, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gave its decision on the request submitted by South Africa on December 29, 2023, in the case against Israel concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the Genocide Convention) in the Gaza Strip. The ICJ did not accept Israel’s request to dismiss the case and issued provisional measures, pending the court’s final judgment on the case. The court also rejected South Africa’s main request to order Israel to halt its...
Much confusion surrounds the debate over the nature and extent of Israel’s obligations toward the civilian population in Gaza. Several important questions must be addressed: Is Gaza an occupied territory? Is it permitted to prevent the supply of electricity to Gaza? Can Israel lay siege to Gaza as part of its war against Hamas? Is there a duty to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza? Is advising civilians in Gaza to evacuate to the south a form of internal displacement?
