There is a raging debate in Israel and in the United States among friends and foes of Israel: What is Israel’s military objective in Gaza? What should be Israel’s response to the October 7 massacre?
Prime minister Netanyahu and his spokespersons have frequently committed to the following three objectives for Israel’s fifth military campaign in Gaza over the past 75 years: The release of hostages (not the first time); the elimination of Hamas (reminds us of the elimination of the Fedayeen in 1956); and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israeli citizens (sounds like phase one of the Oslo handover in 1995 and Sharon’s promise upon withdrawal from Gaza in 2005).















