- A brief but intense escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ended in a quick cease-fire agreement on Tuesday.
- Experts warn that despite Netanyahu’s attempts to prevent all-out war – and perhaps because of them – the situation can quickly unravel.
- Wednesday morning, the Israeli Defence Minister resigned, calling the agreement a “capitulation to terror.”
The dust is far from settled in what experts say is the most intense escalation of Israeli-Palestinian tensions since 2014, despite both sides agreeing to a cease-fire Tuesday.
At least seven Palestinians and one Israeli died as a result of the fighting, which beganSunday after an Israeli special forces operation went awry. Hamas responded with a barrage of about 400 rockets, which in turn prompted Israeli airstrikes that hit a reported 100 militant positions in Gaza.
Both sides agreed to an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire, ending the barrage in less than 24 hours.
While every life lost is tragic, experts recognise that the conflict could have been much worse, and that both sides showed a great deal of restraint in order to prevent all-out war.
“Every tactical incident has the potential to escalate into a strategic event,” said Neri Zilber, adjunct fellow for The Washington Institute, in a Tuesday call with reporters. “There are incentives on both sides to keep the situation quiet.”
Read the article by Caitlin Foster in Business Inside Australia.