You haven't said what an exit strategy might look like, nor has Netanyahu articulated one either, other than to say Hamas must be eliminated. It's in his personal interest to keep things going. But even if his goal of completely ending Hamas's threat were attainable, are the complete destruction of Gaza and the death, injury, and starvation worth the cost, or are they, as you seem to indicate, an inevitable cost of war in an environment where the enemy and innocent civilians are intertwined? Israel could be doing so much more to enable delivery of food, water, medicine, and other basic needs than they have. It's the polar opposite of tikkun olam.
I ask again: Is Israel safer and better off now? As much as I supported their initial response to October 7, I don't think so. Hamas may be degraded, but will regroup, fueled by hatred, and Israel is as alienated as I've seen in my lifetime. Will the tourists on whom Israel depends visit at historical rates, and will companies around the world be as ready to establish collaborative relationships with Israeli startups?
That's why I'm in favor of an international commitment to rebuild and put in place a framework to govern Gaza that doesn't depend on a terrorist organization like Hamas. I don't know if it's achievable, but the status quo isn't tolerable.
