Foreign Policy: The old war in Gaza is over and a new war has begun

An article the Foreign Policy stated that the old war in Gaza has ended and a new war has begun with new Israeli tactics, and the goals of this war have changed.

Israeli author David E. Rosenberg wrote in the article that the Israeli war on Gaza has witnessed a radical shift in tactics and objectives since the resumption of military operations last March, following the collapse of the truce reached in January.

He explained that the first phase of the war, which began after October 7, 2023, was based on clear military objectives such as restoring deterrence, eliminating Hamas fighters, and rescuing hostages.

The second war, however, has a different character, both in terms of combat methods and the underlying political intentions.

The first war, Rosenberg says, was initially characterized by vengeance and widespread popular support, with Israel’s various political factions unifying behind the government and reserve soldiers being massively drafted.

Over time, as hopes of freeing prisoners through military pressure diminished, popular support began to erode, especially in light of the human and material losses and the deteriorating economic situation.

But the resumption of the war in March came amid clear shifts.

The new Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, differs strategically from his predecessor, Herzi Halevi.

Zamir seeks to occupy large areas of the Gaza Strip for extended periods, with an emphasis on controlling the distribution of humanitarian aid to isolate Hamas from the population and establishing humanitarian enclaves to accommodate civilians.

This policy reflects a shift from lightning operations to a long-term territorial occupation, something that wasn’t the case in the initial phase.

As for objectives, they have shifted from measurable military objectives to political and ideological ambitions embraced by the far-right forces in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, most notably the idea of ​​repopulating Gaza with Jewish settlers.

The Israeli government has established an office to facilitate the voluntary migration of Palestinians from Gaza to third countries, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated that the goal is to empty the Strip within a year.

This approach has the tacit approval of Netanyahu, who appears to be betting on the continuation of the war as a means of preserving the cohesion of his government coalition and political survival.

The shift in the war’s objectives was also evident in Netanyahu’s statement that negotiations will be conducted under fire, and in his vague responses to ministers’ questions about Gaza’s future.

This reflects the absence of a clear political vision for the post-war period, while enabling right-wing forces to impose their agenda.

Although Zamir doesn’t necessarily embrace the religious rhetoric of the right, his military tactics pave the way for the implementation of settlement plans, especially given the deteriorating living conditions within the Gaza Strip, which could prompt increasing numbers of Palestinians to leave.

Overall, the second war in Gaza doesn’t represent a continuation of the first so much as it represents an entirely new phase, differing in tactics from rapid operations to gradual occupation, and in objectives from striking Hamas to reshaping the future of the Strip demographically and politically in line with the ambitions of the Israeli far right.