Why is Israel not hitting Gaza harder? Here's what you need to know

Israel’s airstrike on Gaza overnight wasn’t the thunderous resumption of all-out war that some feared—or that initial declarations might have suggested. Instead, the operation—a meticulously planned, ten-minute barrage targeting senior Hamas government officials and mid-level military commanders—was a calculated escalation, a violent warning shot aimed at breaking the deadlock in hostage negotiations. After months of relative calm, the strike inflicted casualties and damage on Hamas, shattering the group’s illusion of immunity and signaling that Israel’s patience with stalled talks has run thin. Yet, far from a plunge back into chaos, this move appears designed to pull Hamas back to the table, not push it into a corner.

The operation’s scope was narrow but its message broad. Planned for weeks, it unfolded with precision, hitting key figures in Hamas’s political and military wings—reinforcing Israel’s long-standing stance of treating all parts of the organization as legitimate targets, with no distinction between fighters and administrators. Caught off guard, Hamas now faces a pivotal choice: signal a willingness to negotiate seriously or dig in, risking a wider confrontation that could see the IDF roll tanks back into Gaza.

The military has been preparing intensely for such a scenario, a readiness underscored by Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s visit to Rafah on Monday, where he met with troops and reiterated the dual mission: “Protect the communities here” while maintaining “an ongoing operation against Hamas” alongside the urgent goal of retrieving hostages.

This wasn’t just a message to Hamas. Egypt and Qatar, the linchpins of mediation efforts between Israel and the terrorist group, sprang into action post-strike, intensifying their push to restart talks before the situation spirals beyond control. The timing suggests Israel aimed to jolt the diplomatic process as much as the battlefield—leveraging force to remind all parties of the stakes. The strike, backed by robust support from the Trump administration via envoy Steve Witkoff, reflects a strategic blend of military pressure and diplomatic maneuvering, with the U.S. providing political cover.

The human cost loomed large over the operation. Hours after the airstrike, freed hostages Yarden Bibas, Yair Horn, Alexandre Sasha Trofanov, and Keith Siegel took to Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, their voices raw as they pleaded for their fellow captives still held in Gaza. Their testimonies—detailing beatings, starvation, and psychological torment tied directly to Israeli military actions—painted a grim picture of worsening conditions for the dozens still in Hamas’s grip. The emotional weight of their plight has shifted public sentiment: unlike the immediate post-October 7 rallying cry for war, polls now show most Israelis prioritizing a hostage deal over prolonged combat, a nuance Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have a hard time ignoring.

Israel’s government, however, presented a familiar line yesterday, pinning the stalled talks solely on Hamas’s refusal to budge. Hamas has indeed hardened its stance—rejecting phased deals and demanding an end to the war; Israel is also refusing to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, a critical sticking point. This hesitation, coupled with attempts to stretch the first phase of a potential deal rather than negotiate the second, has fueled frustration among hostage families and their supporters.

The strike’s broader implications can’t be ignored. Serious questions linger about Israel’s capacity to achieve its stated war aims—dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and ensuring long-term security—without first resolving the hostage crisis. The IDF, stretched across fronts from Gaza to Lebanon and facing growing manpower challenges, has seen recruitment strains surface in recent months, with reservists bearing a heavy burden since 2023.

Hamas, meanwhile, remains defiant, its leaders abroad—like those in Qatar—untouched by the strikes but under pressure to respond. For Israel, this operation was less about reigniting war and more about resetting the chessboard—using force to compel talks while reminding mediators and the public alike that the hostages remain the beating heart of this conflict.

Netanyahu now faces a delicate balancing act. With Trump’s backing, Israel holds a strong hand internationally, but domestically, the chorus for clarity grows louder. The airstrike’s success won’t be measured in casualties or craters alone, but in whether it forces Hamas to blink—and whether Israel can seize the moment to bring its people home. For now, the Gaza skyline smolders, and the waiting game continues.

Israel Hayom contributed to this article.