Aaron David Miller, Senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discusses the recent Hamas attack on Israeli towns and Israel's siege on Gaza. He explores the potential involvement of Hezbollah in the conflict and the challenges faced by the US administration in managing the situation. Miller also reflects on the failure of Israeli intelligence and the need for a lasting solution in the region.
Israel has ordered a complete siege of Gaza and declares war on Hamas in response to a deadly attack by Hamas on Israeli towns.
The attack on Israeli towns by Hamas has exposed intelligence failures for Israel and highlights the lack of visionary and committed leadership, hindering progress towards peace.
Deep dives
Israel's History-Making Attack
Last Saturday, Hamas launched a shocking attack on Israeli towns, infiltrating by land, sea, and air, with a barrage of rockets. Over 900 Israelis have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded. In response, Israel has ordered a siege of Gaza,where several hundred Palestinians have been killed.
Netanyahu's Challenges and Crisis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces corruption charges, mass protests, and runs a tenuous coalition. Despite his leadership during the crisis, he has political struggles and a history of a far-right and religiously extreme government.
Complications with Israeli Hostages and Hezbollah
Hamas claims to have hundreds of Israeli hostages, complicating Israel's response. Additionally, the militant group Hezbollah has fired rockets from the north, creating a potential new front. Hezbollah's arsenal poses a strategic challenge for Israel.
Failures in Intelligence and Diplomacy
The attack exposes intelligence failures for Israel, as Hamas went undetected. Diplomatically, the lack of visionary and committed leadership, ownership, effective mediation, and a mutually agreed end state hinder progress towards peace.
An extra episode this week: Aaron David Miller joins Ravi Agrawal to share his insights as Israel orders a complete siege of Gaza and declares war on Hamas. The declaration comes after a deadly Hamas attack last weekend that killed hundreds of Israelis.
Miller has advised six Republican and Democratic secretaries of state on Middle East policy. He is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.