Persistent conflict in Gaza: What's preventing a peaceful resolution?

Rewritten Article:

Scorching Dilemma: The Persistent Israel-Hamas Conflict

The violent conflict that has gripped Gaza for a staggering 19 months shows no signs of abating. A contentious relationship seems to be evolving between Israel and Hamas, with no endgame in sight. But why do we still witness bloodshed and destruction after all this time?

The current hostilities have their roots in October 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, causing the death of 1,200 and the kidnapping of 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched waves of retaliatory strikes, resulting in over 52,000 fatalities in Gaza, according to local health authorities (not distinguishing between civilians and combatants).

Hamas' audacious assault disrupted Israel's long-standing security policies. Previously, Israel had endured borders threats, occasionally entering the fray to contain them. However, Hamas' surprise attack shattered this cycle.

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Israel's resolve to prevent similar attacks in the future has not wavered, even in the face of accusations of war crimes at international courts.

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Experts suggest Hamas no longer possesses the capacity to conduct another surprise attack of this magnitude. However, its eradication is equally elusive.

The determination to crush Hamas' military and governing might has so far been at odds with Israel's goal of freeing the hostages. Hostages' relatives fear that any escalation in fighting may endanger them further.

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Hamas Agrees to Cede Political Power but Bolster Armed Forces

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, insists that he would bring the conflict to an end if Hamas surrenders political power, disarms, and vacates Gaza. However, he has expressed ambivalent intentions about removing Israeli forces from Gaza, hinting at a new form of occupation.

Hamas has offered to release all hostages, conditioned on Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the conflict. They, however, are unwilling to disarm, instead proposing a long-term truce with Israel.

Netanyahu has dismissed the idea of a moderate Palestinian Authority (PA) ruling Gaza, but has not put a viable alternative on the table. He adamantly opposes Palestinian statehood in Gaza or the West Bank.

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Polls consistently indicate that only a minority of Palestinians rally behind Hamas. There have been internal protests against Hamas and the ongoing conflict within Gaza. However, many Palestinians contend that armed resistance is the sole path to statehood, as negotiations and nonviolent strategies have predominantly faltered.

Founded in the late 1980s, Hamas, an Islamic militant group that denies Israel's existence, has become deeply ingrained in Palestinian society. Over the course of 18 years of governance in Gaza, Hamas built an intricate underground tunnel network, launch systems for rockets, and extensive weapon caches.

Political Games and Rising Unrest

Some argue that Netanyahu's insistence on continuing the war is politically motivated. Two far-right parties supporting Netanyahu's ruling coalition hold the key to his political existence. These parties have threatened to topple the government if the conflict ends with Hamas intact. If both parties withdraw their support, early elections may be triggered, potentially undermining Netanyahu's nearly seamless 16-year rule.

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Support for Netanyahu has dwindled for several reasons. Many Israelis voice dissatisfaction with his government's unwavering hard-line stance, demanding that he negotiate a ceasefire that sets free the remaining 59 hostages, approximately 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

Additionally, Netanyahu's leadership has been streamed with criticism regarding his office's scandals and his questionable moves to dismiss prominent security and legal officials, whom many Israelis regard as essential checks on executive authority. He is currently standing trial on corruption charges that he flatly denies.

Trump's Diplomatic Dance

Despite Netanyahu's troubles at home, his administration enjoys the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump, who affirms Israel's stance on Hamas and the suffering it has inflicted on Palestinian civilians. However, under the Biden administration, Israel faced criticism from U.S. officials over the unnecessary harm to civilians and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Trump says he aims for an end to the conflict but has given Israel free rein to relaunch its military campaign and impose a blockade on Gaza, restricting all food, water, medicine, and fuel, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. On Monday, Trump held Hamas accountable for the Gaza aid crisis, alleging that the group was seizing everything sent. However, aid organizations challenge this assertion.

Trump even proposed taking over Gaza and resettling its population, an idea that up until now was considered extreme within Israeli political circles but has recently been embraced by Netanyahu.

Follow AP's Gaza-Israel conflict coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

The escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas in Gaza are largely incompatible with the general news agenda, yet they continue to dominate headlines and fuel concerns worldwide.
Despite some experts suggesting that Hamas no longer possesses the capacity for another surprise attack, the country's eradication remains equally elusive.
The Israeli government's determination to crush Hamas' military and governing might has been at odds with its goal of freeing the hostages, causing further distress among their relatives.
The Palestinian Authority's withdrawal from Gaza could significantly impact the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the region, but Hamas' unwillingness to disarm has stalled progress towards a resolution.
In the face of mounting criticism, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has had to address issues of corruption and hard-line policies that are widely seen as detrimental to the country's interests, both domestically and internationally.
The political impasse between Israel and Hamas has deepened as both parties stand firm on their conflicting opinions, with no viable alternative in sight and the threat of withdrawal being met with ambivalence from both sides.