One of the most literarily sophisticated 20th-century authors of science fiction, Stanisław Lem (1921–2006) is rarely thought of today as a Jewish writer, but he most certainly was. Born in the Polish city of Lwów (modern-day Lviv, Ukraine), Lem survived World War II by passing as a Gentile. Marat Grinberg argues that Lem’s fiction “offers something quintessential to modern Jewish literary imagination: a view of the world through the prism of the Jewish canon even after the links to tradition have been wrecked.” As an example, Grinberg takes the final meditation in Lem’s novel His Master’s Voice:

Lem is lamenting what he cannot reclaim—his Judaism. The choice of words here is significant. The “inheritance of the generations” alludes to the Jewish concept that all souls are bound in the toils of life, while “a spark” evokes “dos pintele Yid”—the spark that remains within each Jew and carries the Jewish spirit into eternity. To Lem, this everlasting unity is the tragically unattainable personal and universal ideal.

On Monday night, the IDF struck a group of Hamas operatives near the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, the main city in southern Gaza. The very fact of this attack was reassuring, as it suggested that the release of Edan Alexander didn’t come with restraints on Israeli military activity. Then, yesterday afternoon, Israeli jets carried out another, larger attack on Khan Yunis, hitting a site where it believed Mohammad Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, to be hiding. The IDF has not yet confirmed that he was present. There is some hope that the death of Sinwar—who replaced his older brother Yahya after he was killed last year—could have a debilitating effect on Hamas.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is visiting the Persian Gulf, and it’s unclear how his diplomatic efforts there will affect Israel, its war with Hamas, and Iran. For its part, Jerusalem has committed to resume full-scale operations in Gaza after President Trump returns to the U.S. But, Gabi Simoni and Erez Winner explain, Israel does not have unlimited time to defeat Hamas:

Israel faces persistent security challenges across multiple fronts—Iran, the West Bank, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon—all demanding significant military resources, especially during periods of escalation. . . . Failing to achieve a decisive victory not only prolongs the conflict but also drains national resources and threatens Israel’s ability to obtain its strategic goals.

Only a swift, forceful military campaign can achieve the war’s objectives: securing the hostages’ release, ensuring Israeli citizens’ safety, and preventing future kidnappings. Avoiding such action won’t just prolong the suffering of the hostages and deepen public uncertainty—it will also drain national resources and weaken Israel’s standing in the region and beyond.

We recommend launching an intense military operation in Gaza without delay, with clear, measurable objectives—crippling Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and securing the release of hostages. Such a campaign should combine military pressure with indirect negotiations, maximizing the chances of a successful outcome while minimizing risks.

Crucially, the operation must be closely coordinated with the United States and moderate Arab states to reduce international pressure and preserve the gains of regional alliances.