How Netanyahu’s Move Against Iran Gives Him Room to Maneuver on Gaza

For 18 months, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has avoided ending the war in Gaza. In part, it risked collapsing his coalition government, prompting early elections that polls suggested he would lose.

Now, after striking Iran and persuading the United States to hit its prized nuclear sites, Mr. Netanyahu is in a much more comfortable position.

Amid widespread enthusiasm in Israel for his actions against Tehran, Mr. Netanyahu’s polling numbers are higher than at almost any point since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023. If his government collapsed tomorrow, Mr. Netanyahu would now stand a reasonable chance of re-election. And that has spurred hope in Israel that Mr. Netanyahu could now override his coalition’s concerns and show greater flexibility over Gaza.

“He’s at the strongest he’s been for years,” said Mitchell Barak, a political analyst who was an adviser to Mr. Netanyahu before he became prime minister. “When you’re that strong, you can make that deal, you can end the war in Gaza — and not be afraid that your government is going to collapse or that you’re going to be thrown out of office,” Mr. Barak added.