Netanyahu, finish the job, already!

The IDF is surrounding Rafah and systematically destroying it, while Hamas is showing only feeble resistance. Aid has almost completely stopped entering Gaza, the Gaza population is on the verge of uprising against Hamas, and the PA Chairman is demanding they simply release the hostages.

The world is indifferent to what's happening and completely preoccupied with the chaos created by the US President, who is giving Israel full backing. Nasrallah is dead, Hezbollah is paralyzed, the Assad regime has fallen, and the Houthis are enduring constant bombings.

Israel is in the strongest position it has been since October 7th, a position that was unimaginable a year ago. And what is the government doing with these strong cards it holds? Sending air force planes to bomb tractors and negotiating about the size of the carrots it will give Hamas in exchange for hostages.

When will you understand that against this abhorrent terrorist organization, you can only work with sticks? When will you throw away the generous offers for ceasefire, the release of thousands of terrorists, and the IDF's withdrawal from the Strip? When will you replace these offers with an ultimatum: release the hostages within a week or the State of Israel will annex the Rafah district, with no intention of ever withdrawing from it?

Use the strong position we're in to achieve truly dramatic achievements – either the release of all hostages or the annexation of a strategic position under Israeli sovereignty, which would make Gaza forever dependent on Israel's mercy and would burn Hamas into Palestinian memory as the failed organization that led to the worst defeat since 1948.

All this is within reach, and none of it is happening because for almost half a year this government has been pursuing a hesitant and weak policy. Not the army, not the Shin Bet, not the court, and not Biden – all this is solely in the hands of the government.

Elad Nahshon is a PhD student at Bar Ilan University, studying the political and social history of Zionism and the State of Israel.