“ ‘Lawfare’ Against Israel” – Adv. Yifa Segal

Some Israelis fear US plans to build an off-shore pier to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza could interfere with Israel’s war objectives. However, given the agreed interest in the success of the humanitarian effort, and the track record in recent years of close Israeli coordination with the US Central Command (CENTCOM), this could be a building block towards a coherent "day after" strategy, if political imperatives on both sides do not get in the way.

Beyond the intelligence value obtained and the possible leverage for the release of Israeli hostages, the symbolic signal sent by images of Hamas terrorists giving themselves up is strategically significant. Debunking the myth that Islamist "heroes" are willing to fight to the death, unlike their secular nationalist predecessors in past wars against Israel, should be among the long-term goals of the present conflict.

President Biden's veto on an Israeli victory over Hamas severely undermines his two-state strategy based on the creation of an Israeli-Arab state alliance against Iran and its proxies. An Israeli defeat and a Hamas victory will drive Saudi Arabia and Egypt to ally with Iran with disastrous political and humanitarian consequences.