By Oded Ailam
The surprise attack: shock in Hamas
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip last Monday night: a precise and determined attack that struck the Hamas leadership at the exact moment the organization believed it was beginning to recover and rebuild from the previous phase of fighting. The shock within Hamas is evident, as the successful elimination of senior figures in its military and political wings in Gaza sends a clear and forceful message: Israel will not allow the organization to continue rebuilding its power and conducting negotiations from a position of superiority.
As a well-known Arabic proverb says: "If your enemy is in a hurry, slow him down. If he is slow, confuse him."
Hamas has pursued precisely this strategy: endless and protracted negotiations aimed at exhausting Israel and improving its own position. The terrorist organization understands that hostages are its ultimate bargaining chip, and therefore believes that time is on its side.
Hamas is stalling negotiations
In recent weeks, it has become clear to everyone that Hamas is not truly interested in reaching a final agreement for the return of all the hostages. Instead, it has been using negotiations as a tactic to strengthen its military and political position. Hamas has added new demands that were never included in the original document presented by the U.S. Special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff insisted on an extended ceasefire without making significant concessions and placed his hopes on internal pressure within Israel to force it to fully accept Hamas's terms.
In parallel, Hamas has continued recruiting fighters, restoring its tunnel network, planting explosives, and receiving indirect support from the Arab League and Egypt, organizations that have not explicitly demanded that Hamas disarm or cease to exist as a political entity.
Breaking the paradigm: renewing military pressure
Israel has decided to break the paradigm by resuming military action. While this measure carries risks for the hostages, the alternative—giving Hamas more time to prepare and consolidate its control—is far worse. Further delays could result in the hostages dying in the tunnels while the IDF is forced to fight a more fortified and emboldened enemy. The resumption of fighting is intended to exert real pressure and make the Hamas leadership understand that it cannot continue wasting time and dictating the rules of the game.
As Napoleon Bonaparte once said: “One sudden and painful blow is better than a hundred useless conversations.”
Israel has chosen exactly this strategy: not to be drawn into endless talks that only benefit Hamas, but to apply calculated and powerful force to create real change on the ground.
The analysts were wrong: Trump and the green light for Israel
Even before the resumption of fighting, many analysts in Israel predicted that the Trump administration would not allow Israel to use significant force in Gaza. They argued that the president was only interested in "ending the wars" and would not support a large-scale military operation. These assumptions turned out to be completely false: anyone familiar with Trump's character, a tough New York real estate mogul, knew that at a critical moment he would not hesitate to give a forceful response.
Going back to the 1980s and 1990s, Trump forcibly evicted tenants in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and New York, sometimes using gangster-style tactics to advance his real estate projects. This isn't about justifying or praising his methods; it's just that he is who he is. When he sees an interest at stake, he acts decisively. Right now, the American interest is to demonstrate restraint and support Israel against Hamas, Iran, and Hezbollah.
A message to Iran and Hezbollah
Israel's action sends a clear message beyond the Gaza Strip. The fact that the Americans have given the green light to this operation signals to Hamas and its supporters that they should not expect leniency from the United States. Hezbollah, which has refrained from intensifying the offensive on the northern front, understands that Israel has strong support and that actions by the Houthis or others will not alter the strategic landscape. Hamas now finds itself more isolated than ever, while its allies in the Middle East are beginning to realize that continuing this fight is a lost cause.
The necessary diplomatic effort
Along with military pressure, Israel must also act on the diplomatic front to further isolate Hamas. First, it should pressure the United States to exert strong pressure on the Arab League and Egypt to make it clear to Hamas that maintaining its position will lead to a complete cutoff of support and total isolation. The hasty invitation of a Hamas delegation to Cairo on Tuesday after the attack indicates that Israel's message has been received loud and clear.
National Solidarity
The decision to resume fighting was made unanimously by political and security leaders, underscoring its strategic importance. Now, the Israeli public must demonstrate unity and solidarity, avoiding divisive political discourse that could weaken the operation's impact and strengthen Hamas's claims on the international stage.
Israel isn't falling into Hamas's time trap and allowing it to dictate the rules of the game: it's breaking the paradigm, acting on its own timeline, and redefining the terms of engagement. There is reason to believe this move will bring Hamas back to the negotiating table with a renewed understanding that the rules have changed.
Source: Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs
Oded Ailam was head of the Mossad's Anti-Terrorist Division and currently es researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.