**US Media Acknowledge Israel’s Failure to Disable Hamas, War Not Over Yet**
TEL AVIV— The fragile ceasefire in Gaza has begun without Israel achieving its main goal of destroying Hamas. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised his frustrated right-wing supporters that the full victory promised will come later, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. In a report by Marcus Walker, the newspaper reminds us that Hamas claims victory despite suffering significant losses, parading its fighters in the streets of Gaza, as they managed to achieve their goal of surviving the attacks, but the strategic gains from the 15-month war in the Middle East have mostly favored Israel. The newspaper argues that Israel emerges from the war stronger, having successfully reduced the size of many of its enemies, although they still pose a threat.
**Israel’s Strategic Success Amid Diplomatic Isolation**
The report explains that dealing a heavy blow to Israel’s adversaries is an achievement for Israel and compensation for their diplomatic isolation, amidst a world horrified by the scale of destruction in Gaza. The war is not over yet, according to the newspaper, as Netanyahu, who has been criticized by right-wing coalition partners, still insists that Israel can continue the battle after the first-stage ceasefire, and because the exchange of accusations between Israel and Hamas about violations of the agreement’s details began even before the first detainees returned home to Gaza.
**Blame Game in Israel Over Failure to Eradicate Hamas**
The Israeli government and military have been blaming each other for months over their failure to eradicate Hamas. Senior military commanders complain that there is no plan to bring in an alternative authority to run Gaza and suppress Hamas, thus wasting Israel’s efforts on the battlefield. Each time, Netanyahu orders the military to complete the task of destroying Hamas, stating that political plans are a separate matter.
**Uncertain Future and International Influence**
Much depends on President-elect Donald Trump, whose priorities in the Middle East include normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, whether he will continue to press for an end to the fighting, but the ceasefire in Gaza, like the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, could lead to low-level conflict for years, rather than peace.
**Humanizing Touch:** As someone who has family living in the region, the news of the ongoing conflict hits close to home. It’s heartbreaking to see the destruction and loss of life that continues despite efforts to find a resolution. The impact of these conflicts goes beyond borders and politics, affecting real people trying to live their lives in peace. How can we work towards lasting peace and stability in the region to prevent further suffering?
