Netanyahu’s Refusals Pose a Challenge to Those Seeking to Quell the War in Gaza

Benjamin Netanyahu‘s consistent refusals pose a challenge to those seeking to quell the Middle East conflict. Despite global pressure, Netanyahu remains steadfast in his decision to advance the fighting towards Rafah. In this area, millions of Gazans find themselves trapped between the Israeli Defense Force’s Merkava tanks and Egypt’s increasingly fortified barrier, which serves as the final obstacle preventing further dispersal of Palestinians from the Strip. Dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities, although dealing with their ideological influence presents a more intricate challenge, is the definitive goal that Netanyahu aims to achieve through this operation. While war may be seen as an extension of politics through different means, ultimately, political considerations will reclaim their importance, sooner or later. If Israel achieves military victory in the conflict, Netanyahu acknowledges that politically, the Palestinians, if not Hamas with its unyielding stance, could still emerge triumphant. Netanyahu and the ultra-nationalist, religious, and Kahanist factions backing him perceive any revival of the two-state solution as a concession to the Palestinian cause. The objective of the two right-wing factions extends beyond merely neutralizing the Palestinian Islamist movement; it also aims to enforce the vision of Gaza without Hamas; Palestine without a state. This stance represents another form of the status quo politics that underpins Israel’s persistent inertia on the matter. To stall for time and, significantly, in anticipation of a potential return of Trump to the White House, Netanyahu urges his government to distance themselves from the idea of a two-state solution. This move aims to constrain the options available to their ally-rival.