Israel’s Unending War In Gaza

Israel’s security cabinet’s move on Sunday to further extend military operations in Gaza—this time by holding territory and massive shift of population from the north to the south—is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ploy to force Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages before the May 15 deadline.

Hamas has been demanding a permanent ceasefire before the hostages are freed. Israel wants this done before President Donald Trump’s visit to the region next week. As of now, Hamas has not responded.

READ | Gaza Death Toll: Over 15,000 Children Killed In Gaza As Israel Resumes War; Nearly 900 Aged Zero

Re-Occupation of Gaza by the IDF

The ground occupation will be both gradual and massive. Benjamin Netanyahu has launched a never ending war and his intentions are being questioned by many Israeli citizens waiting for the remaining hostages to come home. More fighting will again put their lives in peril.

The New York Times reported that Israel's Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on Sunday that the military has already begun issuing tens of thousands of call-up orders for its reserve forces, looking to expand the Gaza campaign.

READ | Israel Approves Plan To Capture All Of Gaza

Is Netanyahu now leaning towards permanent annexation of Palestinian lands to expand the frontiers of Israel, as the orthodox Jews who are part of his cabinet have long demanded? No one knows the answer. Trump has given Netanyahu a free hand to do what he pleases.

The Prime Minister and senior members of his government argue that his military pressure is essential for Israel’s long term security. Does Israel now want to take over and hold the entire enclave and keep the IDF permanently stationed in large tracts of territory inside the Gaza Strip?

Critics are alarmed by the decision, with the government having no long term strategy for what happens the day after. Continuing military operations helps Netanyahu politically to remain in power.

So long as the war is on, the court case against him will remain in abeyance. Furthermore, elections cannot be held during a war.

With Hamas considerably weakened, its top leadership eliminated and cities and towns reduced to rubble, what more can be achieved by the military?

Despite repeated bombardments and ground invasion, and slaughter of Hamas fighters, the idea of resistance remains. For every Hamas fighter killed, ten more are ready to replace him.

So long as Israel’s brutal repression on the Palestinian population continue, Hamas will remain.

Population Displacement

Since the start of the war, people of Gaza have been on the road, ordered out of their homes to safe zones by the IDF after the Israeli offensive began in 2023. But the safe zones have not been spared by Israeli missiles and bombs. Displaced people, including children and women, have been targeted in so called safe zones, that goes completely against the Geneva convention.

After the January ceasefire agreement was signed and people took the long trek back home they have been trying to rebuild their lives from the ruins and rubbles left by the fighting. Another order to evacuate would be devastating for the people who have endured untold suffering.

To add to their woes, UN supplies to the two million people of Gaza have stopped for the last two months, thanks to Israel. Aid workers have warned of an impending catastrophe but to no avail. Sunday’s cabinet also approved a mechanism for humanitarian supplies overseen by the IDF.

Belligerent Israel

Since Netanyahu’s success in destroying the top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah and demonstrating its military might with the help of the US both militarily and diplomatically, it wants to establish itself as the foremost power in the region.

The one nation standing on its way is Iran and it is well known that Netanyahu wants to attack Iran, destroy its nuclear program and bring in a regime change in that country.

He had hoped that a Trump presidency will help him to do just that. But the President has begun talks with Iran. Netanyahu does not question Trump’s decision.

But in the wake of the recent Houthi attack on Israel’s Ben Gurion airport, the Israeli leader has got just the opportunity he was looking for. He has warned Iran of the consequences of helping the Houthis and other groups backed by Tehran.

Israel and US have led joint strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

Netanyahu wants to persuade the Trump administration towards a more hardline stance. The Houthi attack has provided Netanyahu with a narrative to frame Iran as a direct threat not only to Israel but to U.S. interests as well. But so long as the talks are on, Trump is in no mood to back Netanyahu.