Who won the war?

JVL Introduction

The Washington Institute is a US think tank, aiming “to advance a balanced and realistic understanding of American interests in the Middle East and to promote the policies that secure them.”

This assessment of the war on Gaza, by Robert Satloff, its Executive Director, makes for interesting reading.

Israel has achieved at most two of its five war aims. Not achieved (yet?) are the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, and the establishment of a peaceful, Palestinian-led civilian administration to govern all of Gaza.

And Hamas? While ordinary Gazans have suffered incalculable distress during the war, Hamas has good reason to believe it is now an accepted regional diplomatic player.

As Satloff concludes: “Israel and Hamas both secured important benefits from the ceasefire. The answer to “who won the war” depends on the yardstick each defines for victory. The answer can legitimately be both.”

RK

This article was originally published by Times of Israel Blogs on Sun 28 Dec 2025. Read the original here.