Max Boot on Israel's Gaza City Plan: No Exit Strategy, No Endgame

International Condemnation of Gaza City Takeover Plan

• 🌍 Global condemnation is growing for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza City.
• ⚠️ Satellite imagery shows Israel building up forces near Gaza City, following the security cabinet's approval of the takeover plan.

Internal Opposition and Netanyahu's Motivations

• 📉 Netanyahu faces a lack of domestic and international support for the operation.
• 🚨 The IDF chief of staff warned that a full takeover could trap the military and endanger hostages.
• ⚖️ The primary impetus for the plan is believed to come from hardliners in Netanyahu's cabinet, who demand it for their continued support.
• 💡 Max Boot argues this is a deeply misguided idea, leading to an endless guerrilla war that Hamas desires.

US Role and Trump's Approach

• 🇺🇸 The US, under President Trump, appears to be taking a hands-off approach, giving Netanyahu implicit approval.
• 🤝 Despite expressing unease about the humanitarian situation, Trump is unlikely to stop Netanyahu's actions.
• 📉 This approach risks significant international backlash and heavy costs for Israel.

Shifting International Alliances and Arms Embargoes

• 🇩🇪 Germany, a staunch supporter of Israel, has announced it will stop exporting weapons that could be used in Gaza, signaling a significant shift.
• 📢 This move by Germany is seen as an eye-opening moment, potentially leading other countries to follow suit.
• 🔑 The US is the primary player; if President Trump were to leverage arms supply as pressure, it could be meaningful.

Strategic Concerns and Lack of a Post-War Plan

• 🎯 Taking Gaza City is unlikely to change the war's trajectory, destroy Hamas, or achieve Israel's stated objectives.
• ⚔️ It will likely result in difficult block-by-block fighting and endanger Israeli hostages.
• ❓ A major concern is the lack of a strategy for exiting Gaza and a clear post-war plan for the region.
• 🎯 The IDF consensus is that Netanyahu's objectives of liberating all hostages by force and destroying Hamas are unrealistic military goals.
• 🛡️ A more realistic objective achieved by the IDF is preventing another October 7th-style attack.