Prof. Kobi Michael: I believe an offensive is likely with no other forces willing or able to disarm Hamas, a key component of Trump’s 20-point plan, albeit one tied to further negotiations.
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This would not seek to disarm every gunman in Gaza, but aim for “full destruction of Hamas’ tunnel network, all of their heavy weapons, rockets and missiles, all of their manufacturing and weapons industry”, as well as the expulsion of Hamas commanders.

Published in inews, February 12, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael discusses the strategic challenges regarding Iran’s nuclear and ballistic threats, suggesting that the U.S. and Israel may need to employ military, cyber, and cognitive operations if negotiations fail. He also emphasizes that dismantling Hamas in Gaza may require a full IDF mission if President Trump’s diplomatic plans are undermined by the “creative” disarmament proposals of regional actors like Turkey and Qatar.

The full interview took place on ILTV on February 15, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael discusses how Hamas continues to reconstitute itself by using civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and UNRWA facilities for military purposes, indicating a complete lack of intent to disarm. He further argues that Hamas’s disarmament will not occur quickly through diplomatic pressure alone and maintains that the IDF must be allowed to complete its mission to dismantle the organization by force.

The full interview took place on Channel I24, on February 15, 2026.

Ruth Wasserman Lande warns of a worrying situation in the Gaza Strip involving the continued presence of armed groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, alongside Egyptian-trained Fatah security forces. She highlights a “disturbing” emerging coalition between Sunni extremist forces and countries like Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, which she believes poses a significant threat to regional stability.

The full interview took place on Channel I24 on February 12, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael: Under the current constraints, the reopening of the crossing is unlikely to have a major impact on Gaza.

There are many layers of control between the various security oversight mechanisms, and as of now, only pedestrians are crossing, and even that at very small numbers. In the beginning, this process will proceed very slowly and very cautiously, and won’t significantly influence the internal politics of Gaza.

Even without a significant practical impact, the reopening of the crossing is likely to be used for political messaging. This is Gaza’s exit to the world. From their perspective, it symbolizes sovereignty and Independence.

Published in JNS, February 09, 2026.

Dr. Raphael BenLevi: I believe Israel should end its dependence on US aid, moving from a relationship based on patronage to a true partnership. It is eminently possible to move munitions production onshore; unfortunately, successive MoUs caused our domestic defense industrial base to wither because it was simply easier to buy from ‘Uncle Sam.

The added cost to our military budget of forgoing this aid would be manageable. By some calculations, it would add around 10 percent. However, it is better to calculate the cost of doing without American aid as a percentage of Israel’s GDP—currently 0.7 percent—a proportion that will only get smaller as our economy grows as forecast.

Published in The Telegraph, February 11, 2026.

Meir Ben-Shabbat: from Iran’s perspective, the very existence of negotiations already constitutes a strategic gain. From the standpoint of the Iranian regime, the very fact that talks are taking place already provides it with a series of benefits.

Talks blunt international pressure, weaken the morale of regime opponents, and gradually erode the credibility of military action. Time is Tehran’s most valuable asset. By dragging out negotiations, Iran seeks to turn diplomacy into a containing and wearing mechanism” that exhausts its adversaries while preserving its own freedom of action.

From Israel’s perspective, the worst outcome is not war but a bad agreement, because it would give the regime oxygen to breathe at its most difficult moment.

A narrow deal would enable continued military buildup, strengthen Iran’s regional posture, and institutionalize future crises. A situation in which there is no agreement at all is preferable to a bad agreement, since sanctions would remain in place and continue to undermine the regime’s survivability.

The challenge for the United States and Israel alike is ensuring that the display of American power near Iran does not become a substitute for strategic rigor. Lasting security will not come from managing Iran’s ambitions, but from ending them. Until then, even the largest armada offshore cannot compensate for a deal that trades long-term stability for short-term convenience.

Published in JNS, February 11, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael: Hamas continued reconstitution as the decisive factor. Despite the war, the organization is rebuilding its military capabilities, maintaining command structures, and issuing internal directives. He cited instructions circulated within Hamas regulating how members should interact with representatives of the technocratic committee as evidence that the group is preparing to manage the process rather than surrender authority. Of course, Hamas will control who controls who.

They are not going to bring people from India to be doctors or engineers. They are going to use the same people that are already there. As a result, all of these systems in the Gaza Strip will be operated by people who are affiliated or influenced or controlled by Hamas.

Published in The Media Line, February 07, 2026.

Ruth Wasserman Lande warns of an inexplicable and massive Egyptian military buildup in the Sinai Peninsula, which she believes is strategically aimed toward a potential conflict with Israel rather than counterterrorism. Furthermore, she highlights a concerning shift in Egypt’s alliances toward actors like Qatar, Turkey, and Iran, suggesting this divergence from US reliance poses a significant threat to the long-standing peace agreement.

The full interview took place on Channel I24 on February 5, 2026.

Prof. Kobi Michael discusses Iran’s efforts to isolate nuclear negotiations from its regional proxy and ballistic missile activities, concluding that a military operation may be inevitable because the Iranian regime is unlikely to meet American diplomatic demands.

He also contends that the IDF will eventually need to dismantle Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as the group remains a fundamental “spoiler” to any peace plan and only the Israeli military has the capability and will to demilitarize the area.

The full interview took place on ILTV on February 4, 2026.