As Israel presses ahead with Operation Gideon’s Chariots, its most ambitious military campaign in Gaza since the war began, the political landscape surrounding the conflict is shifting – and not in Israel’s favour. Britain’s suspension of trade talks, the summoning of Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely, and coordinated statements of condemnation from the UK, France and Canada mark the strongest international censure yet. For many in Jerusalem, this is not only short-sighted but morally confounding.
Israel’s operation, launched with the stated aim of eliminating Hamas’s military infrastructure and securing the return of its hostages, comes after months of inconclusive ceasefires, failed negotiations, and mounting frustration. The January truce, welcomed at the time as a potential inflection point, left Hamas’s leadership intact, hostages still underground, and humanitarian aid channels co-opted by the very organisation accused of starting the war. It was a ceasefire that delivered neither peace nor accountability – just a pause that allowed Hamas to regroup.
Israel is walking a tightrope between strategic necessity and moral scrutiny
This time, Israel appears resolved not to make the same mistake.
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