LOS ANGELES (OC),–Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed to escalate the Gaza War to finally eliminate Hamas, all sounding good, but, after nearly two years of war, it hasn’t happened. Netanyahu faces resistance in-and-out of Israel realizing that Hamas is capable to holding out in Gaza’s military tunnels, keeping what’s left of the hostages, assuming that there’s still 20 left alive. “It is necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, to free all our hostages and ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” Netanayahu said, the same message given for the last two years. Netanyahu has to ask himself why after nearly two years he hasn’t completed the job? Only recently have Arab States called for Hamas to leave Gaza, something that obviously signals the end of the line for Hamas. Hamas has hung out to show that it’s still capable to terrorist resistance.
Netanyahu has a tough sell to the Trump administration, but, more importantly, to the Israeli people. They’ve been promised a return of the hostages as a top priority for the government but, so far, it hasn’t happened. Netanyahu has done everything possible short of complete decimation to an already ruined Gaza Strip. It’s hard to imagine more destruction and suffering to Gaza’s 2.3 million population, already living in intolerable conditions. Whether there’s widespread starvation as said by Hamas is anyone’s guess. Certainly the war has created a blockage in supply chains, no matter what Hamas does. “Netanyahu wants the Israeli army to conquer the entire Gaza Strip,” said a report on public broadcaster Kan. Whether Netanyahu wants to go back in with the IDF or not, the White House and international community want the Gaza War to scale down.
Netanyahu’s threat to escalate the war doesn’t have the domestic and global support to sustain itself over any length of time. “Several Cabinet ministers who spoke with the prime minister confirmed that he has decided to extend the fight to areas where hostages might be help,” Kan reported. “The Chief of Staf is required to express his professional opinion clear and unequivocally to the political leadership. I am convinced that he will do so,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X. Saar knows that after nearly two years the Arab Gulf States have called for Hamas to leave Gaza, knowing they can’t take part in any reconstruction. Most international organizations, like the U.N., have called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas still thinks it has leverage because of the remaining hostages. Hamas cleverly used the death toll and famine to highlight the humanitarian crisis.
Netanyahu may be talking tough to bring Hamas to the table to finally get an exile deal out of Gaza. Starting the war over at this point seems fruitless especially if there’s no guarantee of getting the remaining hostages out alive. Whatever the families want, Hamas is a brutal terror group hell-best on Israel’s destruction. So, whatever hostages are left alive today, it’s doubtful most will make it out alive in any new escalation. Trump won’t be inclined at this point to give Netanyahu another bite at the apple, given that he’s spent almost two years destroying the Gaza Strip. However distorted Hamas Health Ministry figures, too many people suffer food shortages and dislocation in Gaza, without another major escalation. Whatever hasn’t worked with Hamas, Trump would be inclined to see Netanyahu keep negotiating or at least lobby more EU countries to tell Hamas to get out of Gaza.
Some European Union countries have called for an independent Palestinian state, when it would serve no one, especially Gazans, to see Hamas stick around. For any reconstruction to take place, Gaza needs a new ruling authority, certainly not Hamas. Hamas has a long track record dating back nearly 20 years looting the Gaza Strip to enrich Hamas leadership. It’s no accident that many of Hamas’s former leaders are millionaires or billionaires in some cases. When Hamas Leader in exile Ismail Haniyeh was killed by an Israeli bombing in Tehran July 31, 2024, he was reportedly worth $4 billion. How did that happen if Hamas were not robbing the Gaza Strip blind before his eventual assassination? Other past Hamas leaders, like Khalid Meshaal, is also worth in the $ 4 billion range, attesting how Hamas plundered the Gaza Strip for years with Arab Gulf State donations.
Netayahu finds himself caught between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place, no longer having the domestic or global support to escalate the war. Trump wants a ceasefire and peace deal not to start the Gaza campaign all over again. However may suffer from sordid conditions, including starvation, isn’t really known. But the image coming out of Gaza certainly shows the Gazan people have suffered enough with nearly two years of war. Granted Israel has a right self-defense after the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre but starting up the war against has few buyers. Aid organizations, whether run by Palestinians or the U.N., are focused on shipments of supplies into the Gaza Strip. Starting up the war again could creat supply chain problems, leaving to more hunger and dislocation. Netanyahu has little backing except within his right wing to escalate the Gaza War at this time. Trump wants peace.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
