The Israel-Gaza Crisis: Three Things to Know
Videos

The Israel-Gaza Crisis: Three Things to Know

August 4, 2014 1:00 pm (EST)

The Israel-Gaza Crisis: Three Things to Know
Explainer Video

The current round of fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas is the longest and most deadly since the two squared off in 2009. The conflict, which has broader regional implications, is likely to wage on until a third party can broker a cease-fire that allows both sides to point to respective achievements. CFR’s Robert Danin offers three things to know about the crisis in Gaza:

More From Our Experts
  • No Rush to Resolve: Intensifying violence has made it more difficult for Hamas and Israel to reach a lasting cease-fire. Their demands have increased "beyond what either side can easily offer the other," says Danin, as both pursue "gains to justify the pain they have incurred." Israel wants to weaken Hamas economically, politically, and militarily, while Hamas wants Israel’s and Egypt’s embargo of Gaza lifted.
  • A Broader Geopolitical Affair: The Gaza crisis is part of a larger power struggle in the Middle East, explains Danin, pitting Hamas supporters Qatar and Turkey against Israel and most of the Arab League countries. While most Arab states condemn the mounting Palestinian death toll, "they don’t want to see the Islamist Hamas—or their backers in Doha and Ankara—emerge politically triumphant," he says.
  • Brokers Wanted: Egypt could historically be relied on to mediate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, but today Cairo "is implacably opposed to Hamas—an organization it sees as a mere extension of its own banned Muslim Brotherhood," says Danin. At the moment, the only party positioned to broker a deal, Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, has little to offer either side.

Top Stories on CFR

United States

Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This Week: Joe Biden doesn’t want one of America’s closest allies to buy a once iconic American company.

Immigration and Migration

Dara Lind, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the record surge in migrants and asylum seekers crossing the U.S. southern border.

Center for Preventive Action

Every January, CFR’s annual Preventive Priorities Survey analyzes the conflicts most likely to occur in the year ahead and measures their potential impact. For the first time, the survey anticipates that this year, 2024, the United States will contend not only with a slew of global threats, but also a high risk of upheaval within its own borders. Is the country prepared for the eruption of election-related instability at home while wars continue to rage abroad?