More than two years after Hamas carried out the Oct. 7 massacre, Israel’s security situation has significantly improved. Still, analysts note that the many fronts Israel faces remain open-ended and unstable. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to take the necessary steps to fully end the Gaza war, guarantee quiet on the frontier with Lebanon, conclude a security deal with Syria’s new government or ensure that the Iranian nuclear program no longer poses a threat. 

"The Israeli leadership keeps seeking the full elimination of Hamas, Hezbollah and other extremist groups, but this concept is unreasonable," Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University’s Dayan Center, told Al-Monitor, adding that “Israel must come up with realistic objectives.” Milshtein said Israel has failed to formulate coherent strategies across multiple fronts because of short-term political interests.

Diplomatic failures on four fronts

Throughout the Gaza war, Netanyahu pledged to continue battling Hamas "until total victory." The Trump administration has been pushing for Israel to accept the launch of the second phase of the president’s peace plan for Gaza, which would see the full retreat of the Israeli military from the Gaza Strip, disarmament of Hamas and establishment of a Palestinian technocrat government to administer the enclave, but Netanyahu has continued stalling. Indeed, the body of hostage Ran Gvili has not been returned, but analysts suggest it is not the real reason why Netanyahu won’t advance toward the second phase. Rather, they say, he is trying to buy time to show his far-right partners he is committed to fighting Hamas until the group is fully eliminated.