The Gaza conflict has forced the U.S. to refocus on the Middle East after years of redirecting diplomatic and military resources to counter a rising China. The Israeli military is still seeking to find and destroy tunnels where Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, and others are believed to be hiding. Israel could still find and kill Hamas’s leadership in Gaza and its remaining fighters—estimated by the Israeli military to be in the thousands. Even if Israel routs Hamas in Gaza, it isn’t clear who would govern the strip, fund its rebuild and provide security. Any of these options could prove difficult as war in Gaza has again exposed strains between the U.S. and Arab nations frustrated with White House backing for Israel’s military campaign.
Source: Wall Street Journal January 14, 2024 12:23 UTC