The war between Hamas and Israel has been raging for more than four months. It has resulted in the killing of tens of thousands Gazian & Palestinians. The public opinion of the world in general is unprecedented in criticism of Israel.
What this session covered
This session, the fifth in NISSMAT's series on the Hamas–Israel war, took the form of a dialogue between the host and a single guest, a retired senior Army officer. It opened with a recap of the previous dialogue: mounting international and domestic pressure on Israel, the unresolved question of the hostages taken on 7 October, the discovery of an extensive tunnel network beneath schools and hospitals in Gaza, failed mediation efforts in Egypt, and Israeli strikes in Syria and Lebanon.
Turning to the current situation, the speakers examined manoeuvring at the UN Security Council: repeated American vetoes, including of an Algerian-sponsored resolution, followed by a US draft of its own proposing a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. One speaker dwelt on the conditional phrasing of that draft, noting that it marked the first American use of the term ceasefire in place of humanitarian pauses. The prospect of an Israeli ground offensive at Rafah, where much of Gaza's displaced population has concentrated and from which Egypt is not permitting entry into Sinai, was treated as the immediate flashpoint. The discussion also covered proceedings at the International Court of Justice over the occupied territories, a visit by Hamas and Palestinian figures to Russia, the widening regional dimension — missile fire from Lebanon, Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, and reported arms smuggling into the West Bank, linked in the discussion to Iran and its proxies — and humanitarian measures including air drops, a pilot sea supply run from Cyprus and a planned temporary pier.
On the wider outlook, the speakers noted internal Israeli discontent over military-service exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox, electoral pressures on governments in the United States and Britain, and India's public counsel to Israel over civilian casualties. One speaker argued that even the elimination of Hamas's remaining leadership would not end low-level attacks on Israeli forces, and cautioned against the conflict spreading to a larger area. On post-war governance, the discussion contrasted a reported American preference for Palestinian administration of Gaza with Israeli insistence on hand-picked administrators; the session closed with one speaker's suggestion that Gaza might for a time be placed under a legitimate international body to address governance and humanitarian needs. Neither speaker saw an immediate cessation of hostilities, though factors that might reduce the war's intensity were identified.
Key points raised
- The speakers traced UN Security Council manoeuvring: repeated US vetoes followed by an American draft resolution proposing a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, whose conditional wording one speaker examined closely.
- A ground offensive at Rafah, where much of Gaza's displaced population has gathered and with Egypt refusing entry into Sinai, was treated as the immediate flashpoint.
- Widening regional involvement was discussed — missile fire from Lebanon, Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and reported arms smuggling into the West Bank, linked in the discussion to Iran and its proxies.
- One speaker argued that eliminating Hamas's remaining leadership would not end low-level attacks on Israeli forces, and warned against escalation to a larger area.
- Internal pressures were noted on several governments: Israeli discontent over ultra-Orthodox military-service exemptions, and electoral considerations in the United States and Britain.
- On post-war governance, the discussion contrasted reported American and Israeli positions, and one speaker suggested placing Gaza temporarily under a legitimate international body.
