Insurmountable Abyss?

Amid Netanyahu's reckless offensive in Gaza, perhaps with Trump's backing, the two-state solution is struggling to survive against famine, displacement, and healthcare collapse—creating ground for alternative proposals

- PRABHU DAYAL

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a new military offensive to seize Gaza City, Hamas's last major stronghold. Israel has called up 60,000 reservists for the operation, which is likely to displace hundreds of thousands more Palestinians.

Israeli tanks are reported to be rolling into Gaza City. The expansion of the military campaign into Gaza City, including plans for clearing civilian areas and seizing control, have sparked both international condemnation and domestic protests.

Meanwhile, President Trump is keeping his foreign policy focused on Russia and Ukraine as global outrage grows over Israel's plans to launch a major new offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Throughout his current term, Trump has continued to show support for Netanyahu and has openly backed Israeli military operations in Gaza. In July 2025, Netanyahu reportedly informed his cabinet that the Trump administration supports his plan to annex parts of Gaza. Netanyahu indicated that the plan was communicated to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

Earlier, in February 2025, Trump floated a controversial plan for the US to "take over" Gaza, build the "Riviera of the Middle East" there and permanently "resettle" Palestinians in neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan. These countries firmly rejected the idea, which was widely criticized as potentially amounting to ethnic cleansing. However, Trump's proposals have emboldened far-right members of Netanyahu's government who advocate annexing Gaza.