Israel’s Defense Dilemma After 100 Days of Engagement
What’s happening
Over 100 days into Israel’s military operation against Hamas, aimed at preventing attacks and ensuring security for Israeli residents, the mission has encountered a reduction in pace. The situation has become particularly complex in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, where the intensity of the offensives has shifted to accommodate dense civilian populated areas.
Why it matters
The slowing momentum of Israel’s military administration is concerning given the strategic challenges posed in Khan Younis and the Gaza-Egypt border area known as the Philadelphi Corridor. This loss of impetus may allow Hamas to retain capabilities to threaten Israeli security.
Big picture
The operation targets Hamas infrastructure, relying heavily on aerial bombardments which led to safeguarding IDF forces by preventing significant military losses. However, civilian casualties were a drastic consequence of the fighting in northern Gaza and now military officials worry about retaining what was accomplished without a premeditated “day after” strategy.
Political deadlock
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hesitance to establish clear mandates on post-conflict Gaza governance aligns with the preference of far-right coalitional partners. However, this has left the IDF without definitive guidance concerning current engagements and reconstruction efforts post-war.
International pressure
Simultaneously, the international community increasingly calls for an immediate ceasefire, and The Hague voices accusations of genocide against Israel. Hamas’s narrative gains traction as global observers criticize Israel’s military strategies.
Beyond the battlefield
Decision-making regarding the Philadelphi Corridor remains unclarified, even as officials acknowledge that it is a nexus for Hamas smuggling and logistics. Cooperation or clear objectives with Egypt overcollaborating onhaven’tbeen’s control over the strip remains a complicating factor in planning.
Standstill risks
The limbo in political progression could undercut IDF advances against Hamas, heightening the risks of retaliation, and leaving Israelis vulnerable. Desperate for resolution, hostage families and political factions plead for deals with Hamas, hinting at the willingness to accept ceasefire in exchange for normalcy.
US interests shift
With international optics pivoting, so too does the US stance as President Joe Biden moves from unwavering support of Israel’s fight against Hamas to stressing plans to avert future conflict incidences like the October 7th hostilities. Pressure from the US could likely see an expedited end to the on-ground fight against Hamas.
The bottom line
As political hesitance looms over IDF stratagems and international point-of-view sites against prolonged IDF incursion, Israel’s combat efforts against Hamas could stall. This would leave Israeli citizens without a definitive sense of security, an outcome that increasingly appears unjustifiable and unsustainable.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.