Israel Is Losing This War
The NationJan 18
Israeli Official: Hostage Deal Could Move Ahead
The Facts
An unnamed Israeli official told NBC on Wednesday there are "strong indications" that a proposal regarding the phased release of Israeli hostages and a weeks-long ceasefire in Gaza will soon move ahead. However, the proposal, which is still being worked on, must be approved by the ruling cabinet, after which the Israeli public would have 24 hours to contest it before it becomes official policy.
As negotiations reportedly progress, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked the State Department to review possible US options for the recognition of a Palestinian state once the war in Gaza ends, according to two US officials. US policy, which hasn't changed, has traditionally been to only support the recognition of a Palestinian state as a result of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The Spin
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel is losing its war in Gaza. After over three months and over 26K dead Palestinians, Israel has failed to release hostages via military operations, to kill Hamas' top leaders, or to create conditions advantageous to ending this long drawn-out conflict. Even then, if Israel did manage to achieve the majority of its war goals, it still would be left without a clear plan of action for the day after the war. Destroying a group like Hamas is a fool's errand, and Netanyahu has dug Israel into a hole that it will have a tough time climbing out of. Israel should accept a comprehensive ceasefire.
Pro-Israel narrative
Though, of course, this war has not been easy, Israel has made steady progress in Gaza, first neutralizing Gaza City before moving on to other population centers like Khan Younis. Israel has substantially degraded Hamas' military capabilities and leadership and even partially degraded elite Hezbollah units stationed along Israel's northern border. Indeed, as Israel's enemies should recognize, Israel's raw military power should not even be up for debate, and the country will fight and negotiate as it sees fit to achieve its goals.