Israel cannot afford to go ‘back where they started’ in Gaza conflict

Australian Strategic Policy Institute Senior Analyst Dr Malcolm Davis says the “critical concern” for Israel – apart from the release of the hostages – is ensuring Hamas do not conduct further October 7-style attacks. This comes after US President Joe Biden said we are “closer than we have ever been” to seeing a ceasefire in Gaza. “They can’t afford to basically go through this entire war, all those 40,000 civilians dead, and then Israel is back where they started with the Hamas threat,” Dr Davis told Sky News Australia. “This is a difficult diplomatic situation – there is no guarantee that it will work.”