It is a new truce between Israel and the Hamas movement "with the same understandings" in past rounds of violence. It began with a failed Israeli operation in the southern Gaza Strip. The elite team was mistakenly discovered by a local Hamas activist who caused a series of events that led to the two sides carrying out a comprehensive military campaign. After the movement launched more than 500 Rocket rocket fired into southern Israel, the Israeli cabinet met for seven hours. It was reported that Benjamin Netanyahu "locked all the ministers inside the chamber" to prevent political fighting through the media. The cease-fire resolution was adopted without a vote, and the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement, which was said to have been taken unanimously. Immediately, two extreme right-wing parties denied the statement. Shortly afterwards, one of them, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, announced his resignation due to "the weak government policy toward Hamas" and "the total loss of deterrence strategy."
This apparent scenario, which makes an occasional observer in Gaza expect an impending Israeli government closure, reflects the deeper reality and balance of power between the Israeli regional power and the Palestinian non-governmental movement. Since the violent coup in 2006, Hamas has essentially faced consistent Israeli policy - - designed to bring down its rule in the sector through economic, political and military pressure. Hamas has resisted Israel's strategy by using various means, including tunneling into the Sinai and Israel, and several rounds of negotiations with Egypt, as well as with Fatah and the Palestinian Authority, while continuously and systematically focusing on building a deterrent force, especially rocket launchers. Intensive fighting broke out in three phases: 2008, 2012 and 2014, ending each time with informal "understandings" focused mainly on easing the economic blockade imposed on Gaza in return for a forced "lull".
On the face of it, the November round is not much different from its predecessors, yet much has changed. The most important development is in the social and economic sphere. Gaza's population has plunged into a comprehensive humanitarian crisis, and Hamas is no longer able to bear the status quo. Curiously, the rapid deterioration of the situation is the result of the policies of Israel, the United States and the Palestinian Authority, with full coordination between the first and second, while the latter operates independently. Washington has cut funding to the main humanitarian agency (UNRWA) and has decided to withhold tax revenues it collects from the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords. For its part, the Palestinian Authority increased pressure on Hamas in Gaza in an attempt to regain a foothold on the ground and was also alarmed by the possibility of a US-sponsored "Deal of the Century" by Donald Trump because it grants Gaza a degree of independence at the expense of the West Bank and the Palestinian Authority .
The anger of Gaza's residents, who are suffering from financial distress, growing despair, and lack of employment opportunities, began to pour their anger at the Hamas government, which in turn tried to channel emotional emotion toward the walls separating Gaza from Israel. Tens of thousands were transferred to specific demonstration areas every Friday, and the level of violence, injuries and injuries rose. The movement launched a primitive but successful burning campaign, using helium balloons and kites, which destroyed large areas of arable land on the Israeli side and transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians into a permanent nightmare.
Global attention, which has drifted away from Gaza and the Palestinian cause in general, seems to have reawakened. Egypt and other countries and the United Nations Special Representative have stepped up mediation efforts. For the first time, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu announced its desire to reach a broader agreement with the "Hamas terrorist organization," as described by official Israeli statements. The main rationale for the possible shift in policy was the need to focus all military efforts on the northern front, specifically confronting Iran's military presence in Syria.
Long before Lieberman resigned, the current government has seen a disintegration, with the prime ministers exchanging harsh accusations in preparation for the upcoming elections. Netanyahu faces almost certain criminal charges in several cases, and he is in dire need of maximum stability on Israel's borders.
The recent and short-term violence ended quickly militarily, but its political implications have just begun. The right wing shows new signs of dissatisfaction with Netanyahu, and has begun new alliances between coalition members and some opponents to discuss a possible successor government to Netanyahu. None of the fundamental problems in Gaza, let alone resolving them, have been discussed in recent months. The injection of little cash and diesel has helped improve the supply of electricity and provide assistance to Gaza residents. Long-term cease-fire conditions have not been met, and overall conditions have remained very fragile. With early elections expected in Israel in the first half of 2019, Gaza and Israel are on schedule with a new round of violence soon.
IREN GATZION is a political analyst and strategic expert
The right wing shows new signs of dissatisfaction with Netanyahu, and has begun alliances between coalition members and some opponents to discuss a possible successor government to Netanyahu's government.
The terms of the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas have not been met in the long term, and the general conditions have remained very fragile