Israeli Troops Battle Hamas Fighters in Gaza as Government Faces Military Discontent
As Israeli troops continue to battle Hamas fighters in both northern and southern Gaza, the Israeli government is facing increased discontent from military officials. Current and former senior military officers have begun to openly argue that the lack of a clear plan for what follows the fighting in Gaza is putting Israeli soldiers at risk.
With no end in sight to the cycle of violence and cease-fire talks stalled, the risks for soldiers are growing. Some generals and members of the war cabinet are frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to develop and announce a process for building an alternative to Hamas to govern Gaza.
The lack of a coherent vision for the future of Gaza has led to Hamas reconstituting itself in areas like Jabaliya in northern Gaza, where Israel first attacked in October. The ongoing conflict has also led to backlash from the international community and a rising death toll among Palestinians in Gaza.
While Netanyahu has resisted calls to end the fighting until Hamas is destroyed, there are growing concerns about whether such a broad goal is achievable. The military’s leaders are frustrated with the repeated military assignments without larger strategic and political questions being answered by the government.
Proposals for a multinational authority to administer and police Gaza have been put forward, but the Israeli government has rejected them. Former officials had warned about the lack of postwar planning even before the ground assault in Gaza began.
As the conflict continues, the rift between parts of the military and the Netanyahu government widens. The political considerations for Netanyahu involve balancing the demands of right-wing parties and Arab countries, while also facing corruption allegations.
The lack of a clear plan for the future of Gaza has left Israeli troops in a cycle of repeated battles with Hamas fighters. Without a shift in strategy, the conflict is likely to continue with no end in sight.
