Three weeks after Hamas’ abhorrent attack on its southern border, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had entered “a new phase in the war,” deploying ground forces into Gaza. The Gaza battle is poised to be long and difficult, but even if Israel manages to achieve its maximalist aim of incapacitating Hamas, the challenge does not end there. The resulting devastation will almost certainly test the success of Israel’s invasion. Then Israel must prepare for a unique—but fleeting—opportunity to bring legitimate change to Gaza following its withdrawal, lest it risk creating a security vacuum that plunges the Middle East into deeper instability.
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