Netanyahu holds all the keys to ending the war

Netanyahu holds all the keys to ending the war. The path the war on Gaza has taken, along with its extensions in the region and the world, is the path imposed by Netanyahu, with the Americans and their allies dragged along

Every day brings a massacre, accompanied by the evangelism that a ceasefire is within reach, and that what hinders the completion of this great work are some small details, which can be overcome in just one or several sessions with Netanyahu’s delegates, who carry a single, unchanging instruction: to gain time and offer nothing in return.

The recent massacre, followed by Netanyahu’s promise of something even greater, represents the real negotiations taking place—negotiations that will determine the result of this war, whether long or short.

It’s understandable that we feel trapped in a vicious circle lasting days or weeks, but it’s incomprehensible that the entire stage has become just a vicious circle, where only blood and destruction persist, with little political effort to change it.

The path the war on Gaza has taken, along with its extensions in the region and the world, is the path imposed by Netanyahu, with the Americans and their allies dragged along. No matter how sincere the Arab side’s mediation efforts may be, they remain mere attempts to reduce the bloodshed and destruction—attempts that now seem futile.

Galant, in trying to outdo Netanyahu, Smotrich, and Ben Gvir, declared that this war will continue, with airstrikes extending to the camps and cities of the West Bank. The only outcomes envisioned are death for Hamas or its surrender.

This situation calls for a pause for reflection, especially on the part of all Arabs, regardless of their differences and roles. While Gaza and Palestine are the center of this war, any failure to end it or to enable its leaders to achieve their initial goals means that the threat looms over everyone.

Yesterday, we mourned a massacre, and before that, every dialogue session about a truce or prisoner exchange either began with or turned into a massacre. The United States promised to send Israel weapons and ammunition worth three and a half billion dollars, and Netanyahu responded to this massacre with a message to the American administration: “I, and I alone, will decide when and how to end this war.” All the keys have been confiscated, including the American key.