‘Netanyahu needs to do something’
Hassan Barari, a professor of international relations at Qatar University, says while Israel intensifies its deadly attacks throughout the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu will ultimately have to come to the negotiating table and agree to a ceasefire.
“He needs to reach a deal because he failed with the vast majority of hostages still held in Gaza, and the only way to free them is to deal with Hamas,” Barari told Al Jazeera.
“The pressure on Netanyahu is mounting internally with demonstrations and the collapse of the war cabinet, so he needs to do something.”
On Sunday, Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said “there is no doubt that the horrific massacres will impact any efforts in the negotiations”, but he added “efforts and endeavours of the mediators remain ongoing”.
That's assuming he wants to get the hostages out. Netanyahu has shown over and over that he only uses the hostages as a reason to keep the genocide going, next to the complete destruction of Hamas (thus complete destruction of Gaza)
The pressure from the hostage families is not enough. The mounting pressure for calls for Netanyahu to step down are mostly fueled by the failure of the war accomplishing any 'goals'. Hence the rescue massacre and claims to strike high ranking Hamas commanders to pretend they're reaching goals.
Fueled by the continued displacement in the North due to ongoing daily fire between Hezbollah and Israel. And fueled by continued strain on the military with mandatory draft extension to 36 months, raising the age limit to be called up to 41 (46 for officers) and drafting the Ultra Orthodox. Next to pressure from casualties mounting up on the Israeli side putting more strain on the economy and leading to more voices speaking out against the war.
Plus slowly more people are starting to realize Israel is becoming a pariah state in the international community.
All this still isn't enough as long as the US remains its ironclad support. Natanyahu's right wing government is 'selling' the genocide as an existential war.
However the tide has turned.
This was from polling in March:
Poll from early July
https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-thirds-of-israelis-back-hostage-deal-over-continuing-war-in-gaza-poll/
Asked what is most important at this time, 67 percent of respondents said returning the hostages, compared to 26% who said continuing the war in Gaza, and 7% who said they didn’t know.
Sixty-eight percent of respondents said Israel is far from the “total victory” pledged by Netanyahu, compared to 23% who said Israel is close and 9% who were unsure.
Responding to the question of why they think the war hasn’t ended yet, 54% said it was because of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political considerations, 34% said it was due to substantive and operational considerations and 12% weren’t sure.
With the country’s leaders’ approval ratings low (28%) and constant protests calling for new elections, respondents were asked when elections should be held. Forty-three percent said as soon as possible, 29% said when the war is over, 23% said when the current coalition’s term expires in October 2026, and 5% said they were unsure.
Former president Bennett is currently leading when it comes to a replacement for Netanyahu
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-more-israelis-think-bennett-better-suited-to-be-pm-than-netanyahu-poll/
Finally, as United States President Joe Biden tries to convince the American people that he is fit to run for the presidency after his disastrous debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump last week, 48% of respondents said they preferred Trump to win, 27% said Biden and 25% said they were unsure.
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