Netanyahu's Balancing Act: Navigating War and Humanitarian Concerns in Gaza
In recent days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has made seemingly contradictory announcements and actions concerning the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. After days of intense bombings that have tragically killed hundreds of civilians, it has launched a new ground offensive named 'Gideon's Chariots.' However, this operation has commenced slowly and employs limited resources and personnel compared to the initial operations of this war.
While executing aggressive strikes on Gaza, Netanyahu also announced the resumption of food aid into the territory after a blockade that lasted over two months, which severely impacted the civilian population. Yet, this resumption is very restricted, allowing only a few trucks to enter. These two announcements appear to serve Netanyahu's dual objective of appeasing disparate audiences while ultimately seeking to prolong the war in Gaza.
The 'Gideon's Chariots' operation—named after a significant military leader in the Bible—is intended to satisfy and placate the radical right-wing allies and extremist factions in Israel, which his government relies upon. These groups seek the military re-occupation of the Gaza Strip, a move that Israeli military officials view as dangerous and unwarranted. By presenting a new offensive that is limited in scale, Netanyahu attempts to keep these extremist supporters on board without fully committing to a comprehensive military occupation, at least for the time being.
Conversely, the partial resumption of food aid is primarily aimed at appeasing the Trump administration, which has recently exhibited signs of frustration towards the Israeli government. Over the weekend, Trump explicitly commented on the humanitarian situation, stating that Gaza requires management, and that many people are dying from hunger. This marked the first time the American president publicly acknowledged the suffering faced by the Palestinian population, prompting Netanyahu to recognize the necessity of action to mitigate the looming humanitarian catastrophe.
Netanyahu himself admitted that the decision to allow limited aid into Gaza stemmed from the understanding that an even more devastating humanitarian crisis would jeopardize Israel's international support, ultimately hampering their objectives in the conflict. His remarks illustrate that the concern is not for the well-being of Palestinian civilians but rather for how humanitarian conditions would affect Israel's standing abroad.
In effect, Netanyahu's strategy represents two tentative steps in opposing directions: the initiation of a military offensive alongside the cautious resumption of aid, all with the intention of maintaining a firm grip on the status quo for as long as possible. As Daniel Shapiro, the former U.S. ambassador to Israel, stated, Netanyahu prefers to buy time rather than make definitive decisions.
This delicate balancing act between contrasting positions has allowed Netanyahu to prolong the war for more than a year and a half, despite polls indicating that over 70 percent of Israelis favor a ceasefire. It is evident that Netanyahu needs to maintain the conflict to ensure the stability of his government, which relies on fundamentalist support, as well as to delay ongoing corruption investigations that have been looming since before the attack on October 7, 2023.
Recent developments should also be viewed within the context of resumed ceasefire negotiations. By increasing military pressure on Hamas through the new offensive while partially permitting aid, Netanyahu seeks to counter accusations of his government's brutal treatment of the civilian population. This strategy not only seeks to maintain his political coalition but also aims to uphold Israel's international image during a time of mounting global scrutiny.
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