Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to frame the next stage of the Gaza war as its final chapter, identifying Gaza City as the last holdout of Hamas and the site of the conflict’s endgame. “The final remnants of Hamas are holed up in Gaza City,” he declared, promising Israel “must finish the job” there.
This narrative serves a clear political purpose. It suggests that a decisive and final victory is within reach, justifying one more major, destructive push. It offers a light at the end of the tunnel for a public weary of a nearly two-year war.
However, military experts are skeptical. Urban warfare in a densely populated area like Gaza City would be incredibly bloody and destructive. Furthermore, even if the formal command structure of Hamas is destroyed, it is likely to morph into a long-term insurgency, meaning the “endgame” may simply be the beginning of a new phase of violence.
The international community, as evidenced by the mass walkout, seems to share this skepticism. They see not a final chapter, but a descent into an even deeper circle of a humanitarian and security catastrophe.