After receiving a security briefing from commanders and visiting one of Hamas’ terror tunnels, Netanyahu told the soldiers: “We have three goals in this war: Eliminate Hamas, return all of our hostages and ensure that Gaza will not go back to being a threat to the State of Israel.” – Jewish Insider
Michael Singh writes: The Gaza crisis also demonstrates the limits of China’s “friends with everyone” approach to diplomacy. Beijing previously sought to avoid taking sides in conflicts it was not directly involved in, preferring to position itself for trade and influence while forgoing the security partnerships favored by the United States and Europe. More recently, however, it has appeared to view such conflicts as opportunities to turn international diplomatic pressure and public opinion against Washington—an approach that has essentially forced it to take sides against U.S. allies. – Washington Institute
Jan Kallberg writes: War is a practical business, and in the future peer-on-peer conflict, today’s force outline, with large numbers of special forces, is much like a toolbox with 20 screwdrivers, but no wrench. The wrench is represented by a sufficient number of maneuver battalions to stop an invasion, to retake terrain, and to defend frontlines that may be hundreds of miles long. That change in Western military thinking can tweak the trajectory of history before we find ourselves in trouble. – Center for European Policy Analysis
Devorah Margolin and Matthew Levitt write: Most of Hamas’ leadership remains, Israelis are still being held hostage in Gaza, and the scale of Israel’s response could serve to radicalize a new generation. As Hamas leader Haniyeh said in the days after Israel began its retaliatory attacks on Gaza that have resulted in thousands of deaths, “[w]e are the ones who need this blood, so it awakens within us the revolutionary spirit, so it awakens within us resolve, so it awakens within us the spirit of challenge, and [pushes us] to move forward.”108 Questions remain about what is next for Hamas. While true supporters of Hamas will see the October 7 attacks as a victory, many in Gaza will see the attacks as a betrayal of Hamas’ governance promise. – CTC Sentinel
Thomas J. Duesterberg writes: Altogether, the various proposals work to weaken China’s attempts to reinvigorate growth by relying on increased trade, attracting more Western capital, and acquiring technology illicitly to increase competitiveness in industries of the future. These proposals will limit Chinese access to Western capital, which the PRC needs for its faltering financial sector and government balance sheets. The measures will also hinder China’s access to Western technology while limiting the PRC’s drive to displace Western industry in global markets. – Hudson Institute