What happens next will largely depend on Netanyahu
The long-time Israeli prime minister has been trying to juggle the demands of his far-right coalition partners with pressures from the United States and Israel’s other allies to strike a ceasefire deal and minimize the devastating cost of the war on civilians in Gaza
At the same time, Netanyahu is facing several criminal investigations and large-scale protests calling for his resignation at home
In addition, many of Israel’s allies have criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the war, with US President Joe Biden having long voiced concerns that Netanyahu may be dragging out the war in Gaza in an attempt to cling to power, something the Israeli leader has denied
While still hugely unpopular among a large portion of Israeli society, Netanyahu has staged a remarkable turnaround over the past year, clawing back some of the support he had lost over the years
Netanyahu has in the past insisted on Israel maintaining some military presence in Gaza after the immediate conflict is over And some of his coalition partners have gone as far as suggesting Israel should build Jewish settlements inside Gaza
Uzi Rabi, from Tel Aviv University, believes some level of Israeli military presence would be needed to prevent Hamas from rebuilding itself in the strip – something Israel’s allies have warned the government against
Quote
“You have to take control of the civilian infrastructure in order to empty Hamas of its authority and its legitimacy in the eyes of the Gazans”
“We should (work) with the Emiratis, with the Saudis, with the Americans and with Palestinians – other than Hamas as to how to proceed from here”
“Maybe this would be actually the opening shot for a different future for Palestinians and the Middle East”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has previously criticized Netanyahu’s plan to keep Israeli military rule in Gaza, warning it would come with a heavy price
Shira Efron, a senior director of policy research at the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation said,
Quote
Netanyahu has already gotten a boost from Israel’s successful operation targeting the leadership of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group
The killing of Sinwar will give him another lift – and a sense of vindication
Efron said, referring to pressure Netanyahu faced from Israel’s allies before the military launched its invasion into Gaza’s southernmost city as some 1.2 million people sheltered there
Quote
“Netanyahu can now claim that everyone in the world told him not to go into Rafah and Sinwar was killed in Rafah”
“It doesn’t mean that Sinwar was in Rafah when the operation there started but I think it lets Netanyahu justify his decisions in hindsight”
Harel Chorev, senior researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University said,
Quote
Netanyahu could see Sinwar’s killing as a moment to cement his legacy
