Israel-Hamas War: A Month In, No End in Sight

The Israel-Hamas war shows no signs of ending due to three main reasons. First, both sides have maximalist goals that are unachievable. Second, neither side's leaders are willing to compromise. Third, outside pressure is needed to moderate the goals of the two combatants, but there are limits to what outsiders can do. The neighboring Arab nations make declarations of support for Palestinians but do little to help. The US has urged Israel to reduce civilian casualties but continues to provide military aid. The European Commission has presented principles for the post-war period, but it remains unclear how they can be enforced. The ongoing conflict risks damaging Israel's international support and may have long-term consequences.