John Spencer
Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, July 27, 2025
“Gaza is its own environment, with its own population and pressures. But the principle remains. Before anything meaningful can be built, the threat must be removed.”
Hamas has refused to negotiate the return of hostages or discuss disarmament. In a brief exchange about his disappointment in Hamas, President Trump recently said, “It got to a point where you’re gonna have to finish the job.” But what does “finishing the job” in Gaza actually mean? What options remain, what is likely to happen next, and what would help?
War is inherently uncertain, so no one can say with confidence what will happen next in Gaza. The outcome will also depend entirely on the decisions of Israel and Israeli society. This war is not taking place in a vacuum. It is unfolding in a historically complex moment filled with strategic shifts, costs, and geopolitical consequences for Israel, the United States, and other nations.
If you want a clear and direct expression of Israel’s position on the war against Hamas in Gaza, I highly recommend this episode of the One Jewish State podcast, where former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman sits down with Ron Dermer, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs:
Nonetheless, here are some my thoughts, based on principles of war, international precedent, some needed context, and what I have seen firsthand on the ground…..SOURCE