For the past three months, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been in a bitter conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The conflict has seen an escalation in violence and death tolls as both sides battle for control of the region. The conflict began after Hamas fired rockets into Israel in response to a partial Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. The conflict has been devastating, with more than 2,200 Palestinians and 70 Israeli citizens killed since it began.
The conflict has taken the world by surprise. For decades, there has been an uneasy peace between Israel and Hamas, with occasional flare-ups erupting into brief spaces of time. But this conflict has been longer and more brutal than any before it, with no end in sight. In recent weeks, Israel has moved away from its air and ground assault on Gaza and more towards a campaign to destroy Hamas’ infrastructure. This effort has its supporters and detractors, but one thing is clear: Israel is entering a new phase of war.
The question now is – whether or not Israel is still trying to achieve its stated mission: destroying Hamas. On one hand, it’s easy to see why Israel is bent on wiping out Hamas: they launched an attack on Israeli civilians, they are dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish state, and they have supported terrorism against Israel for decades. On the other hand, one could argue that destroying Hamas would only make the situation worse. The destruction of Hamas infrastructure would deepen the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and could make a two-state solution even more difficult to achieve.
In the months since the conflict began, the situation in Gaza has only gotten worse. While it’s impossible to say where the conflict is ultimately headed, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Israel is entering a new phase of war, and it’s unsure of where it will ultimately lead. Will Israel achieve its mission of destroying Hamas, or will it be forced to find a new solution to its conflict with the militant group? Only time will tell, but for now, it’s clear that the conflict in Gaza is entering a dangerous and unpredictable new phase.
