Israeli Strategy, Regional Shifts, and the Future of Gaza – DMFI Live Briefing

Miri provides a grounded Israeli perspective on the ongoing hostages negotiations with Hamas and the broader regional dynamics following Prime Minister Netanyahu’s trip to Washington. She emphasizes the deep divisions within Israeli society over which hostages would be released and the major domestic issue of drafting Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men into the IDF—points often overlooked in international discussions but critical to understanding Israeli public sentiment and decision-making. Miri also underscores how Israel’s recent unprecedented military air campaign against Iran and strikes against the Houthis in Yemen have significantly shifted regional dynamics, noting Lebanon’s growing effort to block Iranian influence and Hezbollah resupply, as well as changes within Syria as militant groups adapt. She warns that while Israel’s military prowess has brought leverage, it also unnerves regional actors, complicating diplomatic gains.