29 October 2024

David Petraeus: Israel Needs to Adapt Its Strategy

Ravi Agrawal

Last week, an Israeli patrol in southern Gaza chanced upon the person who had been at the very top of their kill list for more than a year: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. When his death was confirmed, it immediately raised some big questions: How much of a blow would this be for Hamas? How should Israel’s strategy now change? And if Sinwar was the person Israel was blaming for a lack of progress on a hostage deal, would removing him change that equation?

Big moments in a war can feel defining. But as several writers at Foreign Policy have argued, Sinwar’s death might not be the turning point many imagine. There’s a long history of states killing leaders of militant or terrorist groups only to see another leader step in.

No comments: