Notes

The Gaza City question. On August 8, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a plan for the Israeli Defense Forces to occupy Gaza City, the Palestinian territory’s largest population center and one of the last areas that hadn’t been under full Israeli control. On August 10, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the escalation, saying Israel would clear Gaza City and central areas of civilians by moving them to “designated safe zones” where they’d receive “ample food, water, and medical care.”

Despite tens of thousands of Israelis protesting the plan, Netanyahu recommitted to his position this week, claiming it represents “the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily.” The announcement drew international condemnation, with Germany suspending military-equipment exports that could be used in Gaza and Australia imploring that Israel “not go down this path.” After 22 months of war that’s brought widespread destruction and loss of life to Gaza, Netanyahu’s persistence in the face of mounting opposition from advisors and allies alike draws out an ongoing uncertainty, as to how well anyone fully understands his government’s objectives—and how much remains deliberately ambiguous.

What can we say about this?