Israel's ambiguous goals for Gaza amid stalled reconstruction efforts
Israel's prolonged military campaign in Gaza has devastated the enclave, demolishing most homes and infrastructure while claiming over 70,000 Palestinian lives. The population now grapples with severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter as winter intensifies their plight. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, has joined US President Donald Trump's newly formed Board of Peace, tasked with overseeing Gaza's reconstruction and governance.
This move raises pointed questions about Israel's true intentions for the territory. With domestic elections on the horizon, Netanyahu must balance international optics and public expectations of alignment with US-led initiatives. Yet his coalition depends on hardliners like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a religious Zionist who opposes both Gaza's rebuilding and any ceasefire, viewing the land as divinely promised for Israeli settlement.
Recent developments underscore Netanyahu's challenges. He could not postpone the ceasefire's second phase, despite Hamas's refusal to disarm. The Rafah crossing with Egypt will soon operate bidirectionally, facilitating movement in and out of Gaza. Objections to Turkiye and Qatar joining the Board of Peace and potentially contributing to an International Stabilisation Force have been overridden by the United States.
Domestically, divisions persist. Smotrich has denounced US proposals as detrimental to Israel and demanded the dismantling of a US base monitoring the ceasefire. Parliament members prioritize electioneering over policy coherence. Netanyahu insists on Hamas's disarmament, while the military carves out a broad buffer zone along Gaza's border, displacing Palestinians and enhancing perceived security, even if militants retain some capabilities.
Israeli public opinion remains fractured, shaped by fatigue from over two years of conflict and lingering trauma from October 2023 events. Pollster Dahlia Scheindlin notes a mix of fear, security demands, and wariness of external actors, though most prefer any alternative to renewed fighting. Peace advocate Gershon Baskin decries the leadership's election-focused chaos, lamenting the invisibility of Palestinian suffering in national discourse.
No Israeli leader envisions a Palestinian state, though paths to that exclusion vary. Analysts highlight a lack of coherent strategy for coexistence, with suspicions that US plans falter against Israel's resistance. Netanyahu has downplayed the ceasefire's next phase as merely declarative, contrasting US envoy Steve Witkoff's portrayal of progress.
Lawmaker Ofer Cassif accuses the government of shifting from overt bombardment to passive deprivation through policy-induced starvation and exposure. Political economist Shir Hever attributes erratic actions, like strikes on Iran and Qatar, to short-term political survival rather than grand design. Smotrich pushes for settlement and expulsion, but broader governance lacks long-term vision.
Views on the future diverge. Baskin sees cautious optimism in a US administration overriding Israeli vetoes. Cassif fears deliberate obstruction of stabilization efforts, prolonging suffering.
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