After Sinwar's death: Why is Israel ramping up strikes in Lebanon and Gaza?

The Debate

Is the off ramp in sight or did Benjamin Netanyahu’s government deliberately blow past it?

If achieving the stated aim of killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar offers Israel a reason to relent in Gaza and Lebanon, that has yet to happen. The days since have been particularly lethal: air strikes near Beirut targeting Hezbollah’s financial assets just as United States envoy Amos Hochstein was touching down to talk ceasefire conditions.

We will ask if we are witnessing the storm before the calm, or if there is no plan to de-escalate.

With the U-S Secretary of State following Hochstein, Israel mindful of growing pressure from its allies, organizing press tours for journalists to show renewed aid deliveries to Gaza. But the UN accuses Israeli authorities of continuing to obstruct delivery of critical aid.

On that score, France’s president, suggesting Sinwar’s death “must be an opportunity to begin a new phase of negotiation.” We will get the panel’s take on Emmanuel Macron’s latest pronouncement and the verbal jousting with Netanyahu that preceded it.

Produced by Théophile Vareille, Rebecca Gnignati and Ilayda Habip.