By Yu Lan
The Israeli government on May 18 launched a ground operation in the Gaza Strip under the codename "Operation Gideon's Chariots" while simultaneously announcing it would immediately allow humanitarian aid to re-enter Gaza and was pushing forward negotiations aimed at ending the war. However, a senior official of Hamas stated that several proposals put forward during the ongoing ceasefire talks were deemed unacceptable.
Military observer Wang Mingzhi noted that, based on Israel's recent actions regarding the Gaza issue, the country is currently operating on three parallel fronts, namely intensifying military strikes against Hamas, pressuring Hamas to agree to a hostage release deal, and allowing a minimal amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza. These actions suggest that Israel is adjusting its strategy under both domestic and international pressure.
According to Wang Mingzhi, Israel's three-pronged approach likely serves several objectives. First, it aims to achieve the military goal of eliminating Hamas. The "Operation Gideon's Chariot" has targeted central Gaza, a region previously untouched by large-scale operations, before sweeping north and south, thereby preventing Hamas from evading Israeli strikes through cross-regional maneuvers. Second, it is exerting military pressure to advance negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Third, it seeks to secure continued US support for its military operations in Gaza. The release of the last Israeli-American hostage came with one condition: the US pledge to pressure Israel to restore humanitarian aid to Gaza. Fourth, it hopes to ease political and diplomatic pressure from the international community. It is important to stress that Israel's actions are not motivated by goodwill, but rather compelled by external pressure and the threat of potential war crimes accusations.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office on May 18 issued a statement saying that the Israeli negotiating team was making every effort to reach an agreement with Hamas on a ceasefire and the release of hostages, including efforts aimed at ending the war. Regarding Israel's stated intention to promote an end to the war, Wang Mingzhi believes this is more of a diplomatic gesture than a substantive shift.
Wang Mingzhi noted that negotiations between Israel and Hamas had yet to yield any substantial breakthrough as of May 19. In fact, Israel appears to have little expectation of meaningful outcomes from the talks. Its continued participation is largely intended to show the international community that it is not an obstacle to negotiations. Hamas, for its part, is demanding a comprehensive and long-term ceasefire agreement, primarily to ensure its survival. Israel, however, is only willing to discuss a temporary ceasefire and insists that negotiations take place while military operations are ongoing, rather than after a cessation of hostilities. Given these stark differences, achieving a breakthrough in the current negotiations remains highly unlikely, and the conflict is expected to persist.
According to previous reports by US media, the US government has proposed relocating around one million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Libya. In exchange, Washington may consider unfreezing billions of dollars in Libyan assets that have been under sanction for over a decade. On May 18, the US Embassy in Libya denied having any such plan. According to Wang, this is likely a diplomatic tactic by the Trump administration to "test the waters."
First, this reflects the Trump administration's characteristic unpredictability. Washington may have deliberately leaked false information through the media to gauge international reactions. Second, the Palestinian side has strongly opposed any proposals for the permanent relocation of Gaza residents. Third, Libya lacks the conditions necessary to implement such a plan. Fourth, the international community remains firmly opposed to it. Rooted in a deeply complex and protracted history, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has dragged on for over 590 days. Neither military means nor the forced relocation of Gaza's population can lead to a lasting resolution. The only viable path forward lies in recognizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
Editor's Note: Originally published on military.cnr.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
