Netanyahu’s war gamble backfires
By Hassan Hanizadeh
Middle East affairs expert\
Nearly nineteen months have passed since the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by Palestinians and the ensuing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. Despite brutal actions by the Israeli military under, including the killing of women and children, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has failed to turn the tide on the field in Israel’s favor.
The death toll in Gaza is now nearing 54,000, yet the Palestinians there continue to resist the aggression, which highlights their unshaken spirit and resilience. As a result, the Israeli military has paid a heavy price, suffering more than 11,000 casualties, including 2,200 fatalities, and the desertion of 15,000 reservists from its ranks. The financial cost of the war has also skyrocketed, now surpassing $120 billion, further tightening the noose around Netanyahu’s political career.
Even within Israel’s political system, cracks have begun to show. Disagreements over Netanyahu’s aggressive strategies have boiled over, leading to the dismissal of the head of the Shin Bet spy agency and the resignation of the chief of staff of the Israeli army.
The fallout from the war has pushed roughly one million Israelis with dual nationality to prepare for departure. Should the war wind down, a major wave of reverse migration is expected, which is another sign that Netanyahu’s adventure has come at a steep cost both domestically and globally.
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