IS THERE A BETTER SOLUTION FOR THE GAZA WAR THAN A TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE AND PARTIAL HOISTAGE RELEASE?

Note: this post is intended for serious thinking people who genuinely want an end to the violence, and who support a two state solution. If anyone’s idea of a resolution is to end the State of Israel, or remove all the Palestinians from Gaza, they really don’t belong on this site. If you feel moved to post a comment, please say something original; we’ve all seen the tropes, cliches, memes and mindless chants so often that we ignore them.

In a word, no.

It is one possible step towards a hoped-for end to the war and hostage torture, but two observations leap at anyone who examines this option: 1.) it’s not going to work, because neither Hamas or Bibi have any incentive to end hostilities; 2.) it offers no guarantees that Hamas will be completely dislodged as a military and political force in the region, which is the entire purpose of Israel’s actions.

That conclusion is dictated by facts on the ground.

Netanyahu is doing all he can to avoid a return to the defendant’s seat in his corruption trials. He’s tried to subvert the judiciary and the prosecution, hoping for immunity or at least dismissal.

On top of his criminal trials, Netanyahu is facing an inquiry into his actions or lack thereof before, during, and after the October 7 pogrom. Why did he ignore sound advice about a planned attack, given to him by the military and intelligence…