British think tank: Long war strategy in Gaza is not sustainable / Deep rift between Trump and Netanyahu.
This analysis, written by Sanya Osvetlova, refers to US President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the region and his intensive talks with Arab leaders, revealing the change in the US government’s position on the Gaza war and its clear desire to end the conflict.
According to the report, while the US President and Arab leaders in the region, including the Saudi Crown Prince, have called for an end to the war and a resolution to the Gaza crisis through diplomatic mechanisms, Netanyahu continues to insist on expanding military operations and adopting aggressive positions against Syria.
Chatham House wrote: “Trump’s positions during this trip were in direct opposition to the Zionist regime’s strategy towards Gaza. While Arab countries and Trump’s advisors have called for an end to the war, the release of hostages, and even Syria’s entry into the framework of the Abraham Accords, Netanyahu continues to pursue a confrontational path.”
The British think tank further raises the question, referring to the nearly 600 days of war in Gaza, whether Israel has a plan to end the conflict. While the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs has promised to end the war within the next year, some Israeli security sources are talking about two more years of hard war.
The analysis described the main reason for Netanyahu’s insistence on continuing the war as domestic considerations and a fragile alliance with far-right parties, and that any change in military policy could lead to the collapse of his government.
Referring to Trump’s change in tone, Chatham House noted that the US President recently said: “The situation in Gaza is complex and difficult” and that finding a solution to it has become “very difficult”; statements that differ from his previous unconditional support for the Israeli regime. The think tank added: “Trump is now focusing more on the diplomatic path and returning to the negotiating table, instead of repeating previous threats against Hamas.”
According to the think tank, the multilateral pressure on Trump from Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia, to stop the war in private meetings on the sidelines of a regional trip has become a new factor in weakening Netanyahu’s position. The Israeli regime has even postponed one of its planned operations in the Gaza Strip because it coincides with Trump’s trip and the possibility of escalating disputes.
Finally, Chatham House emphasizes that it is no longer possible to assume unconditional support for Israel’s military strategy in Washington. In his new presidency, Trump has shown a willingness to pursue US regional policy with its strategic interests as a priority, even in opposition to Tel Aviv’s traditional demands.