Israel's changing policy: why has it resumed attacks?

Israel has broken the ceasefire and launched a series of airstrikes on densely populated areas of Gaza, killing more than 350 Palestinians.

The White House confirmed that President Trump was briefed on the attack before it took place, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's office said the strike was in response to Hamas' "repeated refusal" to extend the first phase of the peace deal, instead of moving to the second phase as originally agreed.

The airstrikes targeted densely populated towns, schools converted into makeshift shelters, residential buildings and areas where displaced people live in tents. The attacks came against the backdrop of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as Israel banned food, water, medicine and electricity from entering the territory for more than two weeks during the holy month of Ramadan.

The peace deal was reached in January, just days before Trump took office. At the time, Israel appeared to be pressured into accepting the deal by Washington. Some even saw it as the beginning of a coalition government under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli troops were partially withdrawn, aid (which should never have been stopped) was introduced, and tens of thousands of northern Gazans were allowed to return to their homes. These events occurred when Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

Netanyahu has sought to shift blame for the failures that led to the October 7, 2023, attack on Gaza that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages.

But in recent weeks and months, several senior officials have resigned, including the defense minister. The resignation of the army chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, took effect in early March. This week, Netanyahu announced that he was also seeking to fire the head of Israel's internal security service, the Shin Bet.

Restless far-right forces

But since the ceasefire ended, Israel's far-right coalition has been restless and eager to return to war. Almost a year and a half since the escalation following Hamas's attack on Israel, Netanyahu appears to be continuing his plans to "destroy Hamas."

Agreeing to a truce has somewhat eased the domestic pressure on him from the families and supporters of the hostages, eased the growing anger of the Israeli public, and helped improve relations with US President Donald Trump.

But Netanyahu has always made it clear that the ceasefire does not mean the end of the war, but that it is only temporary. He has defined the goal of the war as the destruction of Hamas, but the organization is still active, which is exactly what the hostage release videos are intended to show.

Even during the ceasefire, Israel did not sit idly by. It took the opportunity to focus its military might on the West Bank, especially Jenin, where Israeli forces attacked a huge Palestinian refugee camp in its largest operation in decades.

In addition to Palestine, Israel also attacked its enemies in Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen. At the same time, the United States actively defended Israel from international pressure. This support is important in understanding why Israel dared to continue its war against the Palestinians despite international pressure and legal proceedings against it.

Israel is acting as it sees fit, thanks to Trump's support

With Trump in power, Netanyahu will not face even minimal criticism from Washington; on the contrary, all of Israel's goals, including the gradual annexation of the West Bank, will receive unconditional support from Washington.

For Netanyahu, whose first term as prime minister began almost 30 years ago (in 1996), Trump is a complete liberator not only abroad but also at home. Since 2009, he has helped shape Israel's collective vision. In terms of voting behavior and opinions, the Israeli public has been steadily moving to the right since the 1970s.

It has now reached the point of a revival of Kahaneism. This ideology is a radical religious Zionist movement based on the ideas of Meir Kahane. Kahane argued that the majority of Arabs living in Israel were enemies of the Jews and should not have the right to vote in his dream of a Jewish theocratic state.

The majority in Netanyahu's ruling coalition aims to establish complete control over "Eretz Israel" (historical Palestine). To that end, they are trying to subordinate Israel's currently independent judiciary to politicians. For years, Israel's Supreme Court has blocked far-right supporters, and now they want revenge.

The new laws (called "reforms" by Netanyahu's allies) give politicians the power to appoint judges, subordinate the government's legal advisor, and prevent the Supreme Court from finding laws unconstitutional.

From January to October 2023, these reforms prompted hundreds of thousands of Israelis to take to the streets in protests. The months-long protests put Netanyahu in a difficult position. The demonstrations only ended after the Gaza offensive and the subsequent mass mobilization. Israel has been in a state of war ever since.

Old struggles are resurfacing

Netanyahu used the war to expand his coalition and gradually gain public support, bringing Gideon Sa'ar into the government to avert the threat of early elections. After mending relations with Trump, he overhauled the judiciary, and is now seeking greater control over Israel's security apparatus.

In early March, Justice Minister Yariv Levin revived the plan, seeking to remove Gali Baharav-Miara from his position as Israel's attorney general. Levin also refused to recognize the appointment of Yitzhak Amit as Chief Justice of Israel's Supreme Court, despite his election in late January.

In this regard, he has resumed his efforts to destroy the independence of the Israeli judiciary, proposing to remove the Israeli attorney general and the head of the Shin Bet (along with the army commander and defense minister). If he achieves his goal, he will resemble more authoritarian leaders than democrats. This could turn Israel into a dictatorship.

More broadly, the government's push to gain control of the security services and the Supreme Court is part of a broader effort to eliminate Israel's remaining liberal and tolerant elite, replacing them with right-wing, conservative, and ideological forces that seek to displace Palestinians and turn their lands over to settlers.

It is clear that, against the backdrop of political changes in the United States, Israel is also trying to take advantage of the existing opportunities. However, it is clear as day that Israel's actions will have unprecedented consequences for the region. This could change the reality and nature of not only the Palestinians, but also the entire Arab region. To counter this situation, the countries of the region must act quickly. Otherwise, it may be too late.