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Israel Had No Choice: Military Escalation Is a Necessary Reset for Hostage Talks

(Israel Hayom) Meir Ben Shabbat - The Israeli strikes on Gaza are primarily intended to break the deadlock in hostage release negotiations. An additional goal is to preserve Israel's commitment to achieving all its war objectives. Hamas's self-confidence and capabilities have strengthened considerably since the beginning of the ceasefire. The large number of hostages in its possession allows it to realize additional deals for some of them. The challenge Israel faces is not simple, but the alternative Hamas presents - surrendering to its dictates and leaving it as the central power factor in Gaza - limits its options. The conditions under which Israel is required to operate to achieve its goals today are incomparably better than those at the beginning of the war: the backing from the Trump administration and the umbrella it provides against the diplomatic system and international institutions, the change in the Middle East balance of power, the situation in other combat zones, the state of Hamas, and, distinctly, the experience and confidence gained by IDF forces. The writer, head of the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy, is a former Israeli national security advisor and head of the National Security Council who served for 30 years in the Israel Security Agency.
2025-03-20 00:00:00
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