Netanyahu’s strategy in Rafah isn’t working

On 7 April, six months after the October massacres in southern Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the public that the country was just ‘one step away from victory’ in its war against Hamas in Gaza. Nearly two months later, Israel hasn’t taken that step yet. The war continues. No more hostages have been released alive. Hamas rockets still fall inside Israel, including a barrage earlier this week that rained down on the suburbs of Tel Aviv.

In the meantime, international public opinion has hardened against Israel. Some countries, like Colombia, have broken diplomatic relations. Turkey has announced a trade embargo. Ireland, Norway and Spain recognised a Palestinian state in a move that seemed less about Palestinians and more about trying to send a message to Israel. As part of its ongoing investigation, the International Court of Justice issued an ambiguously-worded order that either places some limits on the Israeli military’s operation in the Gaza border city of Rafah or, perhaps, demands it be stopped altogether.