Israel’s Security Cabinet agreed to a cease-fire with Hamas late on May 20. The decision came just hours after US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone for the fourth time since the Gaza escalation started. The news stations, broadcasting continuously since the beginning of Operation Guardian of the Walls, reported that Biden was heavily pressuring Netanyahu to stop the fighting.

Unlike in earlier rounds of fighting against Hamas, this time, there was almost universal agreement among Israeli commentators, military experts, the public and politicians that Israel's policy toward its enemy must evolve.

Netanyahu has been known as Mr. Security, presenting himself as Israel's top expert on defense and Iran. But in the current atmosphere, with so many buildings hit by Hamas rockets, his branding has become a political weakness. Netanyahu’s opponents are trying to offer alternatives to his Gaza policy. Some argue that Israel should strengthen the Palestinian Authority while others argue the strikes on Gaza should continue.

“We must create a situation in which Gaza residents have something to lose, like the Lebanese model,” opposition chair Yair Lapid posted on Facebook yesterday. Lapid said, “The main reason that Hezbollah — a terror organization much stronger than Hamas — avoids direct confrontations with us is the fact that during the Second Lebanon War, we attacked the Lebanese infrastructure mercilessly. [Hezbollah General Secretary Hassan] Nasrallah knows that if he enters into confrontation with us, then Beirut’s harbor, air force, local industries and commercial centers will go up in smoke, literally.”