Professor Kobi Michael: Hamas is definitely in real strategic distress. Its entire command and control mechanism has been destroyed. Other than the Gaza Brigade commander, Ezzidin al-Haddad, there is no senior figure left capable of managing the organization as an organized military framework.
Published in JNS, June 04, 2025.
Prof. Kobi Michael: Sinwar was a key figure in Hamas’s military wing and took over his brother’s role in negotiations. Even when his brother was leading the talks, Mohammed was the harder-line, more rejectionist and more rigid figure.
Killing Hamas’s Gaza-based leaders strengthens its leadership overseas, which tends to be more open to negotiating with Israel. While not yet accepting Israel’s terms, it is more flexible than the leadership in Gaza.
Published in The Washington Post, May 31, 2025.
Asher Fredman: Israel deeply values its times with its Abraham Accords partners. If and when Hamas is truly removed as the dominant force on the ground in Gaza both officially and de facto, these countries can play an important role in shaping the day after.
The interview took place on Al Arabiya on May 29, 2025.
Dr. Yossi Mansharof: Israel is thinking long term, Trump thinks short term. Following the trauma of October 7 Israelis are more aware of the existential threat Iran represents. Meanwhile, I don’t remember any time that Iran has been as vulnerable as it is now. I don’t think Trump is using it well.
Published in The New York Sun, May 29, 2025.
Ruth Wasserman Lande: The situation in Gaza as well as in Israel is very dire. It is very tragic and very dire and it can be stopped. The way in which it can be stopped is international pressure.
it’s much easier to pressure Israel because Israel actually listens. It has some kind of a mechanism that responds and so on. What we’re terrible in is explaining what on earth we’re doing. And I absolutely recognize that and it’s very unfortunate.
What happens is that the Hames send the bullies literally bullies they come and they break the legs and shoot the legs and feet not of Jews not of Israelis of their own people so that they are [afraid to take aid]… It’s all over the internet everywhere and it’s in Arabic.
The interview took place on LBC on May 22, 2025.
Joseph Rozen: The relationship between Israel and India is anchored in a robust and resilient strategic partnership. India supported Israel’s war against terrorism following the October 7 attacks and supplied arms despite international criticism. Therefore, it was natural for Israel to stand in support of India’s right to self-defense in its fight against terrorism.
This alignment is far from new, citing Israeli assistance to India during India-Pakistan conflicts in 1965, 1971, and most notably during the 1999 Kargil War.
Published in JNS, May 18, 2025.
Prof. Kobi Michael: A significant military dynamic has been created. The killing of many Hamas operatives had brought the group back to the negotiating table.
Published in The New York Times, May 18, 2025.
Prof. Kobi Michael: However, Mr Trump’s trip leaves a confused picture behind in Israel. There is a sort of confusion because on the one hand, politicians in Israel feel that they were thrown aside, but on the other hand, there is no doubt that some things that have been said or done by Mr Trump are deeply and well co-ordinated with Israel.
Published in The National News, May 16, 2025.
Prof. Kobi Michael: If the military pressure that Israel now increases in the Gaza Strip will bring Hamas to comply to Whitcoff’s proposal, then Israel will stop the military pressure. If not, and Israel is not intends to wait too long for that, it is a matter of days, Israel will intensify the military operation until the full occupation of the Gaza Strip in order to assure… Hamas will not remain and will not be there in the Gaza Strip, and the hostages will be released.
The full interview took place on ILTV on May 13, 2025.
https://youtu.be/CiFoEGz7qrs
Lahav Harkov: Israel and Greece have had especially close ties for the past decade, but ties have only improved as Israel’s relations with Turkey have been on the rocks. Still this is more than ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ The countries [Greece and Israel] have done military exercises together and share intelligence.
Published in Breaking Defense, May 12, 2025.
