The British magazine The Economist reports that Israel’s predicament in the Gaza Strip is worsening as it faces all pressing choices; whether to prioritize victory, “hostages,” or relations with America. Israel’s dilemma in Gaza .
After two weeks of launching its ground attack inside the Gaza Strip, Israel has pushed 4 brigades, about 10,000 soldiers, into the sector. Some of these forces are making their way through the city of Gaza, moving from house to house, searching for more tunnel openings.
The only chance
The magazine quotes an officer saying that this opportunity will be their only chance to end as much as possible of the secret tunnel network built by the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas,” a complex network about 500 kilometers long, adding, “We do not know how long we have to work and we need to make the most of it.”
The article adds that Western support for the Israeli attack is beginning to waver, which is putting pressure on Israel to execute what it wants from its attack. It refers to the call of French President Emmanuel Macron for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying that despite his support for Israel’s right to respond to the Hamas attack, there are children, women, and the elderly who have been bombed and killed, “There is no reason for this and no legitimacy.”
The intensity of the contradiction between the goals
Despite the fact that America, Israel’s closest ally, has not yet demanded a ceasefire, the Israeli military is not wasting any time. However, it has reached a point in its campaign where the contradiction between the Israeli government’s declared objectives is increasing; which is to destroy Hamas’s military infrastructure and rescue the 239 “hostages” still being held in Gaza.
The magazine says the Israeli cabinet has not yet decided to storm Gaza’s hospitals because it hopes to reach an agreement with Hamas regarding the release of a large number of hostages and the allowance of more supplies, including fuel, into the sector. Indirect talks about what kind of agreements are ongoing in Qatar and Egypt, but the last word will be that of Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, one of Israel’s main targets.
It is unclear whether any agreement “will postpone an attempt by the Israeli military to destroy any Hamas facilities near or under the Shifa Hospital,” as it seems unlikely to give that up.
Urging the remaining civilians to head south
As the tense negotiations continue, Israel is trying to urge as many of the remaining civilians inside Gaza City, estimated to be around 100,000, to head south.
The Economist also points out that the Israeli government’s refusal to commit to any form of Palestinian control over Gaza after the war is undermining international support for its attack.
The magazine draws attention to the fact that the administration of US President Joe Biden has already made it clear that it wants the Palestinian Authority to take control of Gaza as soon as the fighting ends, and it is working towards such a future. It adds that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose popular support is waning, seems more concerned about clinging to his shrinking nationalist base than being prepared for the fate of the sector if Hamas is removed from power.
For more on this evolving situation, visit dzwatch.net. Israel’s dilemma in Gaza
