A report by the American newspaper "The New York Times," published on Tuesday, reveals growing dissatisfaction among Israeli military leaders regarding the war in Gaza. They perceive the military mission in the region as repetitive, given the lack of a clear vision for the post-war situation.
The report elaborates that Israeli military leaders view the absence of a governance plan for Gaza after the conflict as a danger, particularly with the resurgence of clashes with Hamas in northern and southern Gaza. Current and former senior military officers have begun to openly assert that the government's failure to present a plan for what comes after the fighting has forced the forces, now in the eighth month of war, to engage again, especially in northern areas that have seen the return of Hamas fighters, emphasizing that the combat mission has become cyclical.
With no clear end to the fighting in sight, and seemingly halted ceasefire talks, the risks faced by soldiers are increasing. Two Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, have stated that some generals and members of the war cabinet feel frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not announcing any alternative to Hamas in governing Gaza. They also noted that Netanyahu's reluctance to engage in serious discussions about "the day after" has made it easier for Hamas to re-establish itself in areas like Jabalia in northern Gaza, which was first targeted by Israel in October.
Eiran Leerman, former Deputy National Security Advisor of Israel from 2006 to 2015, stated that the intense backlash Israel faces from much of the world regarding the war—and the rising Palestinian death toll in Gaza—results from the "lack of a coherent vision for the current situation."
Netanyahu has resisted calls to end the fighting, arguing that there can be no civilian government in Gaza until Hamas is destroyed. However, as more analysts and officials question whether Israel can achieve such a broad objective, criticism from within the military increasingly reflects a growing rift with Netanyahu’s government. The two Israeli officials confirmed that beginning to establish a new governing authority in Gaza would complicate matters for Hamas and could alleviate pressure on the Israeli military.
