Israel‘sโค Shift in Strategy Risks โฃProlonging Gazaโ War, Experts warn
Gaza City โข- A hardening of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin netanyahu’s stance, rejecting interim deals and demanding a comprehensive resolution to โขthe conflict โฃwith hamas, coupled with a โฃmobilization of forces aimed at occupying the heart of Gaza City, is likely to extend theโฃ duration of the war, according to analysis from political and military experts.โข The shift comes after previous โฃindications of potential negotiation for a โphased agreement.
The change โin approach raises concerns about escalating โthe conflict and diminishing prospects for a swift resolution, impacting both Israeli and โขpalestinian civiliansโ and potentially destabilizingโ the wider region. Experts suggest that achieving the stated goals of โขdismantling hamas’s military and administrativeโฃ capabilities and securing the disarmament of Gaza may proveโ unattainable, further prolonging the fighting.โฃ
According to reports, tens of thousands ofโข Israeli reserve soldiers have been โcalled upโ in preparation for anโฃ intensified offensive. โNetanyahu has pledged to continue fighting until israel decisively defeats Hamas. However, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Thomas Nides, argues that Netanyahu has set an “impractical goal,” suggesting a more realistic definitionโค ofโค success would be preventing a repeat of the Octoberโ 7th attacks.
“October 7โ will not be repeated again,” Nides stated, advocating for a revised understanding of achievable outcomes.
Experts also point to the limited leverage โthe U.S.administration,including former President โDonald Trump,may have in influencing Netanyahu’s strategy,despite a recent shift in the Trumpโ administration’s position on negotiations.
Mickey Zohar, a conservative Likud minister aligned with โNetanyahu, affirmed the government’s newโ position on Saturday, stating to Israeli television, “There is no longer an option for a partial agreementโฆThe only โคthing โon theโ agendaโข is to end the war, as well as restore all hostages, of course, and disarm from the โขGaza Strip.”
Shira Evron, an โขexpert on โIsraeli policy at the Rand Corporation, cautioned โthat pursuing a comprehensive agreement will likely “mean more postponement and prolonging the war.” The current trajectory suggests a protracted conflict with uncertain prospects for a lasting resolution.