Prof. Kobi Michael described the situation as very fragile, noting that Israel must balance its desire for aggressive, heavy retaliation against Hamas violations with the need for restraint to secure the remaining hostages and implement President Trump’s peace plan.
He asserted that Hamas’s actions reflect its DNA, as they only agreed to the plan’s first phase and do not intend to demilitarize or dismantle, posing significant challenges for the implementation of the second and third phases. To succeed, Israel must combine military and diplomatic paths and focus on keeping President Trump supportive and focused on his plan through intimate channels, rather than taking his often incoherent public declarations too seriously.
The full interview took place on Channel I24 on October 20, 2025.