Israel’s expansion of its military assault is being done with the intention to “reoccupy Gaza” or at least parts of it, according to Gideon Levy, a columnist at the Israeli news outlet Haaretz. “Nobody can take seriously the Israeli claim that this [resumption of war] will bring … the release of the hostages. Because we know by now that [military] pressure does not save the hostages,” Levy told Al Jazeera, speaking from Tel Aviv. “And this is where the families [of the captives] come in, where they say that this is all about political gain for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” Levy said the war is “horrifying and frightening” with ceasefire talks having not “amounted to anything”, and with no one to stop Israel, given the US’s support. “We are in a situation of desperation. A war continues without any goal. The bludgeon continues without any purpose. Innocent people are [killed] on a daily basis,” he said. “And I don’t see an ending. How will it end? Hamas will not give up because they have nothing to lose. And Israel cannot be stopped.”
