The deadly incident in Rafah is Israel’s first test following the hostages deal and Hamas’ return to the streets of the Gaza Strip. Israel’s desire to “Lebanonize” Gaza, meaning routinely eliminating terrorists, will not succeed. Gaza is not Lebanon.
As the annual Torah reading cycle begins anew, we are reminded that although the Torah is a book of laws, it opens with a sweeping preface. The first commentary by Rashi sheds light on both his era and ours, offering a strategic key in the global battle over historical truth. Just ask Dr. Yaakov Herzog, uncle of our current president.
While the parties in Gaza seek a fragile peace, extremism is reigniting in Italy. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are degenerating, journalists are being attacked, and police officers are being injured. Landini's CGIL union is providing logistical support to radical movements, while opposition groups that have embraced pro-Palestinian views are watching in silence.
In the Trump deal they left a gap the size of Shalom Tower regarding the deceased hostages, and it was obvious that Hamas would go through it and squeeze the life out of us, keep assets we will not be able to recover, and Israel will now have to invent levers to fix that.
We must not live in illusions: Gaza remains under Hamas control, and the terrorist organization is already preparing the next attack. Israel should press to implement the deal — that would let it join the broader regional vision Trump described in the Knesset.
If in 2017 Donald Trump was seen by the West as a “mistake of history,” in 2025 he is the one shaping it. He now leads every global summit as the leader of the greatest power in the world — a leader one can stands behind, unquestioningly and without hesitation.
President Trump’s plan calls for civilian and security mechanism that will assume control of the Strip, but there's the chicken-and-egg dilemma: most potential participants will not commit forces to areas under Hamas control while it remains armed and dangerous.
As much as the enormous achievements of Operation “Midnight Hammer” are being hailed, President Trump finds it hard to believe that Iran can resume its nuclear program. It is clear that he is aiming for an agreement with Iran, in contrast to Israel’s position.
The next phase is not military but cognitive. Jerusalem defines the reality before Doha and Ankara rewrite it in Hamas’s language. If they are allowed to sit at the table, the pause will become a defeat; if they are excluded, a new order can emerge: clear victory, sovereignty without intermediaries, and deterrence that endures.
The start of the ceasefire in Gaza marks a shift in Israel’s national agenda. Developments in Iran’s nuclear program and the continued threats from the Houthis are posing major challenges for the security establishment. Still, there are signs of hope on the diplomatic front.