With the Israel-Hamas war resuming at the end of the temporary truce and efforts by five nations to end the war failing, the long-term resolution of the conflict seems elusive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed that the war will continue until Hamas is crushed, according to US political and military strategists.
The ongoing war has taken a toll on the Israeli economy, costing approximately $270 million per day. The GDP is expected to fall by 5 percent in the third quarter, and scientific research has come to a halt as university students have been drafted into the conflict, claim sources from Israeli ministry officials.
Israel is determined to weaken Hamas significantly before agreeing to a long-term ceasefire in Gaza. However, this process is expected to take months, despite international pressure for a negotiated pause in military operations.
The consensus among the public, political echelons, and security establishment is that Israel cannot allow Hamas to continue governing Gaza and threatening our civilian population, said Nimrod Novik, a fellow at the Israel Policy Forum.
The conclusion of the operation will depend on various factors, including military, domestic, and political considerations, as well as public opinion in Israel and pressure from the United States, according to analysis from the US News and World Report.
The roots of the conflict stem from Hamas militants killing 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, predominantly civilians, and launching thousands of rockets into Israel. Israel resumed the war after accusing Hamas of breaching the truce. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes on Hamas military sites, most of which were located in civilian areas. A subsequent ground search was carried out to locate tunnels, terrorists, and the 240 hostages abducted by Hamas in northern Gaza. Unfortunately, this resulted in extensive destruction in northern Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces.
Jonathan Rynhold, a political scientist at Bar Ilan University, explained that the IDF’s commitment to act cautiously is an effort to demonstrate to President Joe Biden that they are making a 100 percent effort to defeat Hamas within the rules of warfare. President Biden has consistently demanded that there be no civilian casualties.
However, Biden’s strong support for Israel’s right to pursue Hamas and free the hostages has led to a decline in his popularity among Democrats, as indicated by polling data.
The economic impact of the war is significant, with Israel’s Finance Ministry estimating a daily cost to the economy of around $270 million. Additionally, the credit ratings agency Standard and Poor’s predicts that the Israeli economy will contract by 5 percent in the last quarter of 2023.
In summary, the long-term resolution of the Israel-Hamas war remains elusive. Israel is determined to weaken Hamas significantly before considering a long-term ceasefire, while the economic and humanitarian costs of the conflict continue to rise. The situation is complex and multifaceted, with various factors influencing the decision-making process of ending the war. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution that can bring lasting stability to the region.
