WhatsappThere has been a tremendous noise in Israel and around the world concerning the government’s approval of taking over Gaza City. Putting the specifics for a moment off to the side, the question that has come up over the last few days is Netanyahu’s refusal (and Trump’s) of Hamas’ acceptance of the Witkoff outline as passed through Egyptian mediators.
Many on the left are arguing that Prime Minister Netanyahu has a duty to accept Hamas’s return offer to free half the remaining live hostages and any ground maneuver into Gaza City will jeopardize their return.
Hamas’s capitulation or at least seeming pull back from their maximalist position must be examined in light of the IDF’s threat to take over Gaza City. They weren’t budging until the plan was adopted. Interestingly yesterday the IDF already sent tanks towards Gaza City and blew up tens of buildings in the Zeitouin neighborhood there. This is being dubbed Gideon Chariots 2.
Hamas’s sudden weakening of its position is an affirmation of the government’s strategy that appears to be aimed at cornering Hamas and calling its bluff. Making a credible threat while already moving the IDF into position aims at forcing Hamas to surrender without the need to move large-scale forces into place and ultimately ending the war.
An end to the war is only acceptable along the five points outlined by Prime Minister Netanyahu:
- Gaza will be fully demilitarised
- Israel will hold overriding security responsibility.
- A security zone will be created on the border to prevent future attacks.
- A civilian administration will govern Gaza and seek peaceful relations with Israel.
- Hostages must be released, and Hamas must surrender.
So what is Netanyahu trying to do?
Essentially, Netanyahu and Trump see that Hamas is ready to fold, either after the Gaza City campaign or in order to stave it off. Yes, there is a threat of killing the hostages, but this threat may be overemphasized on the part of Israel’s leftwing media and leftist leaders in an attempt to weaken Netanyahu. The fact is, Hamas probably won’t kill the hostages as the remaining 20 are their escape card. If they kill them, the IDF will be ordered to go full force and raze the remaining areas of the Gaza Strip.
At least that is the assumption behind Netanyahu and Trump’s moves in regard to the next phase of the war. Trump wants a quick end to the war – that does not mean he wants Israel to hold back. Rather, he wants them to move swiftly and decisively.
Let’s face it; the hostages are starving and if there is a 60 day ceasefire at least half of the remaining hostages won’t make it through in those conditions. Israel has no choice but to move forward with the final stage of the ground operation or risk losing many of the living hostages.
Hamas’s response is a tactic Arafat often used. Whenever he was about to lose – whether it was in Lebanon or later in Ramallah, he would claim he wanted a ceasefire. Netanyahu has clearly had enough and with Trump’s support will go to the end unless Hamas finally surrenders and releases all the hostages. His assumption is that given their weakness and their potential loss of their Berlin with the fall of Gaza City, they very well may trade the remaining hostages for their exile.
If not, the IDF will finish them off.
