Hamas Gains Strength While Netanyahu Faces Strategic Failures in Gaza

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an article suggesting that the agreement revealed a resurgence of Hamas’s influence, as it begins to regain control over the Gaza Strip and rebuild its military capabilities. The article noted that Netanyahu finds himself “trapped” between demands from his hardline right-wing coalition partners for military escalation and pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has started to diverge from the diplomatic protest rhetoric of his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post pointed out that the return of Hamas fighters to Gaza’s main streets underscores the failure of Israel’s months-long intensive bombing campaign to achieve its stated goal of eliminating Hamas as a political and military force. According to the American newspaper, scenes emerging from Gaza suggest that while Netanyahu may have succeeded in reducing Hamas’s combat capabilities, he failed to end its control on the ground, raising questions about the effectiveness of Israel’s strategy.

Positive Indicator

In France, Libération discussed the second prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel, which proceeded relatively smoothly. The paper saw this as a sign of both parties’ commitment to the ceasefire agreement, despite Israel’s repeated accusations of Hamas violating the deal. However, the French newspaper warned that the post-ceasefire landscape remains uncertain, especially given the influence of the far right on Netanyahu. Developments in the West Bank, including settlement expansion, highlight policies that could prolong the crisis.

Humanitarian Concerns

The Guardian focused on warnings from experts about the dangers posed by thousands of unexploded bombs left by the war in Gaza. These explosives threaten the lives of civilians as they return to check on their homes or search for missing relatives. The British newspaper stressed that the presence of these explosives under the rubble poses a persistent risk of death even after military operations have ended.

Israeli Claims

In Lebanon, The Financial Times reported on Israel’s delay in withdrawing its forces from border areas with Lebanon, citing alleged non-compliance with the ceasefire agreement. The British newspaper quoted sources saying that Israel’s daily attacks on border villages continue, heightening concerns among Lebanese families, especially given the anticipated long-term environmental and structural damage caused by the military operations.

Separately, the right-wing American website Breitbart highlighted remarks by former CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who emphasized that the Trump administration is refocusing intelligence policies to address 21st-century geopolitical challenges. Ratcliffe argued that China—not Russia—poses the greatest threat to the United States, criticizing earlier intelligence efforts for failing to grasp the scale of the Chinese challenge.