The main point of contention in ceasefire negotiations is Hamas’s insistence that a deal has to bring an end to the war. Israel’s position is that it can live with a temporary ceasefire, but that fighting will have to resume in order to defeat Hamas. Israel cannot allow the organization to keep control of Gaza and to continue to attack Israelis, as it has vowed to do. The October 7 attack made it clear that this is a threat that has to be eliminated, or at the very least reduced to an acceptable level. ...

So far, it seems that no mediator is capable of placing enough pressure on Hamas to reach a ceasefire agreement, leaving only the military option on the table — for now. The IDF’s call for civilians to evacuate a specific part of Rafah could indicate that the initial operation may be limited — an attempt to pressure Hamas into a deal that’s acceptable for Israel, and to ease American concerns.

On Sunday, Jews marked Holocaust remembrance day. The saying “never again” has received a renewed meaning as Israel fights enemies that wish to annihilate it and Jews suffer an immense rise in worldwide antisemitism and threats against their safety. Israel is committed to fight on, and hopes its allies will support, rather than obstruct, its efforts.