Netanyahu’s Gaza Escalation Risks Catastrophic, Endless War

Washington, DC – J Street is gravely concerned by the Netanyahu government’s decision to launch a major new ground operation in Gaza and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s refusal to entertain any serious proposal to end the war. This push to fully occupy the entire Gaza Strip comes after over two and half months of a blockade, with the entire population grappling with acute food insecurity, and amid rising fears that Israel’s far-right government is pursuing a long-term plan of full re-occupation, displacement and annexation rather than prioritizing hostage releases and a safe end to this war.

In response to these developments, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following statement:

“We are appalled by the Netanyahu government’s decision to expand its ground offensive in Gaza – prioritizing full occupation and ‘total victory’ rather than a deal that could return the remaining hostages and end the war.

This escalation will cost more civilian lives, trigger mass displacement, deepen the humanitarian crisis and isolate Israel.

This is not the way to bring the hostages home – in fact, it puts them in extreme danger. That’s not just our view, it’s the clear position of hostage families, Israeli security experts and over 70% of the Israeli public.

This offensive will also not eliminate Hamas. The only real path to defeating and replacing Hamas, and ensuring long-term Israeli security, is through an agreement to end the war, return all hostages, and initiate a regional plan involving Arab states and the Palestinian Authority that will establish a new, legitimate governance and security structure for Gaza.

The Netanyahu government continues to reject any viable ‘day after’ plan. Instead, extremist ministers are pursuing their illusions of permanently occupying Gaza, blocking its reconstruction, and denying Palestinians – including the brave Gazans now risking their lives to protest Hamas rule – any path to peace, freedom and self-determination.

While we are grateful that US pressure seems to have led Israel to allow some humanitarian aid to re-enter the Strip, we are also clear that no humanitarian aid effort can succeed amid expanding military operations. Preventing further catastrophe requires an immediate, international, logistically viable, large-scale and protected delivery plan.

We urge the Trump Administration to use every lever of influence to halt this dangerous escalation and push Netanyahu back into a deal that ends the war. With every passing day, the human toll mounts, hostages are put in more danger and the damage to Israel’s moral standing, strategic interests and international support deepens.”