Israel and the United States are at odds over the definition of defeating Hamas as the conflict in Gaza continues. The Biden administration believes that Hamas no longer poses a significant threat to Israel, signaling that the objective of destroying the militant group has been achieved. President Biden stated that Hamas is incapable of launching large-scale attacks like the one that triggered the current war in October.
Israel, on the other hand, under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, insists on completely eliminating Hamas' military and governing capabilities before agreeing to a permanent cease-fire. The Israeli army claims that Hamas has not been eradicated entirely, with militants still present in certain areas and sporadic rocket attacks continuing.
Furthermore, Israel's far-right ministers have rejected Biden's call for a cease-fire, advocating for a more aggressive approach to completely stamp out Hamas. They propose resettling Gaza with Israeli settlements and encouraging the emigration of Palestinians from the region.
The differing views on how to handle Hamas highlight the complexities of the conflict and the challenges in reaching a lasting resolution. While the U.S. seeks a swift end to the fighting, Israel's leadership and far-right factions are pushing for a more decisive and comprehensive approach to ensure the security of the region.
