“Feed and Contain”: The Doctrine Behind Israel’s Endless War with Hamas

In the wake of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s latest speech, one thing has become clear: Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas is no longer just a military campaign. It is a calculated political doctrine—one that ensures the survival of both Hamas and Netanyahu’s government.

That doctrine has a name: “Feed and Contain.”

It’s not new. In fact, it quietly came into effect over a year ago, long before the current escalation. Its purpose? To manage the conflict with Hamas in a way that keeps it perpetually unresolved, while manipulating public perception and political outcomes.

Here are the five core goals of the doctrine:

All of this is wrapped in a convenient excuse: “American pressure" under Biden, and now "Iran", under Trump.

Yet one must ask—does Israel truly lack the capacity to control food distribution or border logistics in Gaza? The answer reveals a more cynical truth.

Israel as a “Spreadable Paste”

Rather than leading with clarity and purpose, Israel has become what one might call a “spreadable paste”—a passive player in a political sandwich, manipulated by a doctrine of ambiguity while the international community consumes the fabricated narratives.

Netanyahu doesn’t want to destroy Hamas—he needs Hamas:

This approach keeps the conflict alive, the threat real, and the right-wing public in a state of anxious loyalty. But this isn’t true right-wing policy—it’s politics of survival, masquerading as security doctrine.

The equation is simple: The longer the war drags on, the longer the government survives. Hamas is fed. The war is managed. The public is worn down.

And in the process, Netanyahu maintains his grip on power—not by solving the problem, but by sustaining it.

He may go down in history not as a strategic visionary, but as “The Greatest Delayer of All Time.” The time has come to ask: Will we continue spreading ourselves thin, or finally choose a direction?