“There is no longer any deterrence.” That is how the spokesman for Hamas’s military wing, the man who goes by “Abu Obeida,” marked three years since October 7.
He is half right, and the half he is right about is Israel’s problem.
This month Israel marked the first anniversary of October 7 since all the hostages came home. In three weeks Israelis go to the polls. So it’s worth asking a question that sounds simple: what does losing look like for Hamas? Get that answer wrong, and nothing else works. For a very long time, Israel got it wrong.
