Israel to Roll Out Gaza's 'Day After,' Hamas Rejects 'Meddling'

Facts

• After Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said on Tuesday that a vision for Gaza's post-war governance based on an Israeli-friendly administration backed by moderate Arab states would soon be rolled out, Hamas pledged to prevent foreign interference.¹
• Though Israel has emphasized that the elimination of Hamas is the first step to creating a new reality in Gaza, Hanegbi said that Palestinians must be given an 'alternative' because Hamas represents an 'idea' that will not suddenly disappear.²
• On Wednesday, fighting in Gaza raged unabated, with Israeli strikes reported across the strip. Residents of Rafah said fighting intensified in the western Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood, where Israeli tanks reportedly tried to advance north amid intense clashes.³
• Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has visited the US to meet with officials for 'critical' talks regarding the war in Gaza and on the Lebanese border, as negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a cease-fire have effectively stalled.⁴
• Before meeting White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Wednesday, Gallant said that Israel was committed to the cease-fire proposal announced by Pres. Joe Biden last month, and to the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.⁵
• On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was ready to make “a partial deal” with Hamas to return only some hostages from Gaza so that the war could continue. However, on Monday, he said he was still committed to the US-backed proposal.⁶

Sources: ¹Timesofisrael, ²Jerusalem Post, ³Reuters, ⁴Guardian, ⁵X and ⁶CNN.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by New York Times. Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. However, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has gotten out of hand, and Washington's red lines are clear. Netanyahu must be willing to work with the US and its allies to find a resolution to this conflict.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Hamas simply cannot stay in power in Gaza, and Israel must continue fighting the good fight. Indeed, if Israel does not destroy Hamas, the group will immediately begin planning the next Oct. 7 terrorist attack. Though there are pressures at home and abroad to end the war prematurely, Israel must get the hostages back and eliminate Hamas.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. It should be clear after almost eight months of grinding brutality that Israel's true goal is to destroy Gaza and starve its people. Even the military is now admitting that it is not capable of defeating Hamas, yet Israel's political leadership refuses to end this genocidal campaign. The US must force Israel to finally stop.

Predictions