The war in Gaza has resumed with a new intensity, but it would be a mistake to see this as a straightforward continuation of what we have witnessed over recent months. This phase of the conflict suggests a shift in strategy – one shaped by Israeli military recalculations, a more accommodating US administration, and the failure of ceasefire negotiations to yield further meaningful results.
Washington and Jerusalem are now aligned in their broader strategic objectives
For some weeks, Israel has found itself in a strategic deadlock. The lull in fighting had given Hamas time to reorganise, rearm, and reinforce itself, while the humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza ended up helping to finance the terrorists as they seized it and sold it to their own people. Meanwhile, hostage negotiations stalled, and Hamas appeared increasingly emboldened, confident that Israel would hesitate before resuming full-scale military action. That assumption proved to be a miscalculation.
The appointment of the new IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has coincided with a notable shift in Israeli operations.
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