When the world's at stake,
go beyond the headlines.

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated before the United States Congress that Israel would keep fighting in the Gaza Strip until it achieved “total victory” against Hamas. This as over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Strip since Oct. 7, over 100 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza, and fighting has returned to areas in the northern part of Gaza that Israel previously said were cleared of Hamas. Multiple attempts at a brokered peace have failed, while tensions with Hizballah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen are once again threatening to spark a broader regional conflagration. Given all of this, we asked five experts to ask one question: What happens next?Read their answers below.Yael Mizrahi-Arnaud Doctoral Candidate, History, New York University Research Fellow, Forum for Regional ThinkingWhile Israel continues lethal bombardments in the Gaza Strip – most recently in the southern city of Khan Yunis – all eyes are on the northern border, where an attack attributed to Hizballah has left 12 Israeli Druze children dead in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel has since vowed to retaliate, but the extent of this remains to be seen. Neither side appears intent on instigating a dramatic escalation. While Israel and Hizbollah sit on the precipice of an all-out war, and kinetic activity is likely to increase in the coming days, the possibility of an end to the current round of fighting remains on the table.The U.S. has had a flurry of diplomatic activity, most recently in Rome, attempting to mediate a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas with the help of Egypt and Qatar. Hezbollah has said it would halt its attacks if this deal goes through. Despite widespread Israeli public support for a deal, as well as amongst many in the security establishment, Netanyahu appears intransigent. Since October, Israel has evacuated 60,000