Israel Escalates Gaza Assault Amid Doha Talks and Growing Internal Divisions

This genocidal war government is also backed by Israeli public silence, as leftist commentator Gideon Levy wrote today in Haaretz, stating that all of Israel is complicit in Gaza’s catastrophe—actively or through denial and silence. He noted that Netanyahu’s legacy will be overshadowed by genocide.

Alongside these failed negotiations and threats of escalation using “Gideon’s chariots,” divisions within Israel remain, mainly about the war’s purpose and future—not its bloody consequences for Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Washington is proposing a modified version of Witkoff’s plan—freeing five hostages for a 50–60 day ceasefire, alongside a phased disarmament program for Hamas. Israel rejects this.

Hamas spokesperson Taher al-Nunu told Al Jazeera last night: “Negotiations are ongoing, but we sense no real Israeli seriousness.”

Israeli press reports today highlight growing U.S. pressure on all parties, raising the crucial question of Arab states’ stance—before, during, and after Trump’s regional visit, where he returned with a “fantasy basket” of gifts.

Despite mixed statements—sometimes showing sympathy for Gaza—Trump revived talk of deporting a million Palestinians to Libya, a country itself bleeding from 14 years of war. Trump remains the key decision-maker, but his stance depends on the seriousness of Arab governments. What’s clear is that this is not just Arab “incapacity” but a deliberate political posture.

Ongoing Talks, Ongoing Disaster

Israeli military analyst Amos Harel (Haaretz) notes that Trump’s position on the war and the deal depends on what he heard in the Gulf days ago. He argues military pressure affects Hamas, but the Doha negotiations could drag on—and there’s no real justification for the campaign the Israeli army is preparing for, especially after a January ceasefire was reached.

Echoing Lieberman, Harel writes that Netanyahu and his extremist partners are the only potential Israeli beneficiaries from a perpetual war. He warns that if Trump doesn’t intervene to stop Netanyahu, Israel could face prolonged international entanglement—this time, possibly with sanctions.

Western Silence and ICC Backlash

Will Western powers go beyond their muted critiques of Israel’s unprecedented genocide since WWII? This question gains urgency as global interests appear to outweigh ethical concerns.

Suspiciously, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan was removed from his post after allegations—timed shortly after he issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.

Hell for Both Sides

The Israeli government shows no regard for criticism, even launching attacks on mild dissenters like French President Macron.

Columnist Ben-Dror Yemini (Yedioth Ahronoth) wrote today that Israel’s friends cannot understand Netanyahu’s actions. He argues that the war is fueling antisemitism, that Hamas is gaining global traction, and that Israel is nearing defeat—due not to media failures but to flawed policies or the absence of any.

Intelligence editor Ronen Bergman paints a bleak picture, saying many Israeli security officials now believe that neither of the war’s two stated goals—returning hostages or defeating Hamas—is realistically achievable, especially considering the massive cost of reoccupying Gaza and establishing long-term military rule.

“The Land Belongs to Its People”

Political analyst Shimon Shiffer agrees, accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing alliances with extremists like Smotrich and Ben-Gvir over diplomacy with Saudi Arabia.

He recalls a Palestinian taxi driver in Oslo once telling him in 1998, “They expelled us from Ramla in 1948 and from Nablus in 1967. Tell Netanyahu we’ll return to Palestine—because the land belongs to its people and will accept no one else.”

In essence, Shiffer warns: without a shared-living solution, life in this land will remain a shared hell.