A week has passed since the signing of the peace agreement in Gaza. During this time, the truce has been violated several times under various pretexts. Recently, Israel carried out massive airstrikes on the city of Khan Younis and several other areas of the Gaza Strip. At the same time, both sides – Israel and Hamas – continue to declare their commitment to the peace agreement.

Against this backdrop, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his intention to run for re-election in November next year. However, despite his political resilience, several factors may prevent Netanyahu from passing the “pre-election qualification” this time.

After two years of war in Gaza, Israel has failed to achieve its strategic objectives. Hamas has not been destroyed, and control over the Gaza Strip is expected to be handed over to third parties. The return of hostages can only be considered a minor tactical success, as only part of them survived.

Meanwhile, the sword of Damocles still hangs over Netanyahu and his family – the investigation into the so-called “Qatargate” corruption case involving the Israeli prime minister and his close associates continues. In this context, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal to Israel’s president to pardon Netanyahu speaks volumes.

On the other hand, Netanyahu faces strong pressure, primarily from the far-right members of his government. The ministers of national security, transportation, and finance have openly called for the continuation of the war in Gaza.

Thus, the situation places Netanyahu before a difficult choice – to resume the war to avoid internal pressure, or to uphold the peace to avoid external pressure. Clearly, either path puts the Israeli prime minister in a losing position.

#ISRAEL

21.10.2025 05:30