The goal: internationalization of the south of the Strip

By Nadav Eyal

Three weeks and three days later, Israel got good news for the first time, really good news. A deep, good, free breath, into the heart of the nightmare that accompanies us all. The operation to free soldier Uri Megidosh is not a turning point in the war, or an important geo-strategic development. Its importance is primarily humanitarian: returning the kidnapped woman to her family. However, what is added to this importance is the symbolism of the army’s strength. Trust in him and his abilities.

On October 7, Israeli society received a severe blow. Not only because of the number of casualties and “crimes” committed by Hamas’ “death units” and intelligence failures. Rather, the feeling that prevailed was that the army failed - despite the courageous fighting - to reach the besieged and occupied towns. It did not prevent the fall of its soldiers, or prevent the capture of hundreds, the majority of whom were civilians. The smart operation to free one female soldier from Gaza reminded us that the army we remember and rely on is still here. He got up, still working.

The projections on Hamas are clear. Israel succeeded in keeping the soldier's release a secret. At the same time, it was estimated that Hamas knew about the rescue operation. In any case, the leaders of the “terrorist” organization watched the celebrations in Israel, hours after the video was sent showing three hostages begging for their freedom (while the barrels of Hamas rifles were in the room). Certainly, Hamas has learned the lesson that, from now on, the 238 kidnapped men and women must be better hidden. It was difficult not to think of the hundreds of families who witnessed the joy in the Majidush family’s home, after long nights of waiting and praying for another moment. Like this.

The message from army operations could help push Hamas into a deal. It is aware that Israel is moving in Gaza, and it is possible that it will lose some pressure cards as a result of the ground operation and the loss of operational control over part of the region. The partial deal, which includes women and children, and possibly also foreign nationals, has not been canceled even though negotiations have not matured, according to an Israeli official.

The dramatic media releases the day before yesterday clarified parts of the picture of the fighting in the sector itself. The Army is now in the midst of expanding ground maneuvering. He works according to an organized plan, and tries to get as little of it as possible to the Israeli and foreign media. In the army, they expect mounting resistance from “saboteurs” and fierce battles, and they stress that what we have seen is only the beginning.

In order for this beginning to turn into a serious step, it must be given time. The time required for a military operation is months. This is why the security services really want to expand humanitarian access to the residents of the Gaza Strip. Professional authorities in Israel understand that in order for the army to be able to operate for a long time, there will be a need to establish some kind of routine in the southern Gaza Strip, primarily in Rafah. Within its framework, the army will carry out limited strikes in the area, in addition to that the injured who arrived from the north will be treated in hospitals permitted by Israel and Egypt, and housing solutions will be built for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, which will prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

Legitimacy equals time. This equation was reached by the security establishment. The Americans played their role. According to the security establishment, in order for the army to have the time and legitimacy to operate, medicines, food and water must be brought in; An international mechanism led by Egypt and America. This means transferring responsibility for the southern Gaza Strip to international organizations - at a time when Israel expels Hamas from the northern and central Gaza Strip. At the same time, it is making operational and diplomatic efforts to return as many abductees as possible as quickly as possible.

For these good things to happen, the government must overcome its harmful and extremist nature. The best example of this is a letter written by the Ministry of Intelligence and Minister Gila Gamliel that was “leaked”; The message expresses a crazy group that wants to establish settlements in the northern Gaza Strip again. The document raises the possibility of expelling Palestinians from Gaza to Sinai, which would be considered a war crime - and lead to the end of the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, as well as the collapse of the moderate regional alliance.

No one takes this card seriously in Israel. However, the international community does not understand that when it is said “Ministry of Intelligence,” the talk is about “a job for Likud activists.” Since its publication, the paper has received widespread attention from Israel haters, and has been treated as an “organized plan” and “true intentions” of the government. Experts in international law in the world issued a view on the war crimes planned by Israel.

Why all this? Because of irresponsibility, populism, and the far-right's attempt to score points. This is one model. There is also the model of Bezalel Smotrich, who is determined (and is still transferring coalition budgets to the Haredim) to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, which is already surviving with difficulty, due to the pressures on it. There are also those who are trying to add fuel to the fire of Arab-Jewish relations inside Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu - who is politically and personally weak - was the one who was supposed to curb these populist paths. He is preoccupied, as is known, with his own personal interests.

Preventing stupid mistakes is absolutely necessary now, so that society and the army can succeed in focusing their forces on defeating Hamas. The possibility of being drawn into a war in the north and a regional war has not diminished, according to what became clear last week.

Yesterday, we have a ray of light, but there is a lot of darkness that we must dispel.