The Israeli government’s security cabinet has just unanimously approved the expansion of military activity in Gaza. One may wonder, after more than eighteen months of war -the longest of all those waged since 1948 – what the real reasons behind such a decision are. Eighteen months of bombings, conquests followed by withdrawals, then reconquests of an almost entirely destroyed territory – haven’t these proven that there is no military solution to this conflict? The deaths of over 850 soldiers since October 7, and the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, have not led to the achievement of the war objectives set by the Israeli government. Hamas has not been defeated, and most of the hostages were only freed through negotiations. Shouldn’t we then see in this decision the pursuit of another objective, as recently declared by an “official” speaking on behalf of Netanyahu: “to occupy the territory to maintain an Israeli presence and push for the transfer of its population to other countries with which negotiations are allegedly ongoing”?
Such a decision would mark the end of all Egyptian or Saudi initiatives aimed at managing the situation in Gaza without Hamas and securing the release of all hostages. The families of the hostages have clearly understood that the safety of their loved ones, despite all official statements, is not among this government’s concerns. This is why, like 70% of Israelis, they oppose the continuation of the war. In fact, more and more reservists are refusing to respond to call-ups, citing exhaustion after having served, in some cases, more than 200 days as reservists since October 7.
More than two months have passed since Israel broke the ceasefire and imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid entering Gaza. The situation is becoming increasingly unbearable for the population. It may be true that Hamas is seizing food aid to replenish its stocks, but that is no justification for starving the population. The use of hunger as a weapon is unworthy of all our values, those upon which the State of Israel was founded.
Former Israeli security officials have stated that this policy is both a moral and strategic failure, and that it will only strengthen Hamas while endangering the lives of the hostages. A petition initiated by members of the House of Representatives is currently circulating in the U.S. Congress, calling for an end to the blockade and a return to a ceasefire. Will it succeed in convincing the American president – the only one who can pressure Netanyahu to change course – just two weeks before his planned trip to Saudi Arabia?
Today, May 5, Israeli lawmakers returned to the Knesset after a two-month parliamentary recess. They were greeted by thousands of protesters who have continued to mobilize throughout this period, opposing the government’s plans and calling for its downfall. This is an existential struggle for the survival of a Jewish and democratic State of Israel, committed to the values of a pluralistic Judaism open to the world, an Israel that refuses to continue dominating another people and is determined to end the conflict.
David Chemla
