Growing divisions between Israel’s military commanders and the civilian government over the war in Gaza have reached a boiling point, with tensions spilling into the open this week. The rift, which has been quietly growing for months, has raised questions about how Israel will conduct the next phase of the war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies have been at odds with the Israeli security services, blaming them for the failure to prevent the Hamas-led surprise attack on Oct. 7. The military, on the other hand, has been frustrated by the government’s fight to maintain the exemption from service enjoyed by ultra-Orthodox Jews, while Israeli forces are stretched thin.
The most public break came on Wednesday when Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the armed forces’ chief spokesman, made unusually blunt comments expressing fears that the government’s lack of vision for a postwar Gaza could squander the gains made against Hamas. He emphasized the need for an alternative to Hamas in Gaza to truly weaken the group.
The public rift between military leaders and the government is particularly striking amid wartime pressure for unity. The lack of trust between the military and political leadership is evident, with accusations of a lack of overall strategy and growing rift with the United States.
The Israeli military has been pushing for more conscripts to fuel the war effort, while the government has been focused on maintaining the exemption for ultra-Orthodox Jews. The disagreement over the direction of the war and the governance of Gaza has left the military and political leadership at odds.
As the conflict continues, the future governance of Gaza remains uncertain. Mr. Netanyahu has avoided making a decision on how to govern the enclave after the fighting stops, leading to concerns about the potential outcomes. The lack of a clear stance from the government has left many questions unanswered.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has also raised concerns about rising anarchy and the humanitarian situation in the region. With no clear plan for the future of Gaza, the Israeli military is facing pressure to shoulder the burden of governance, a scenario they are keen to avoid.
Overall, the growing divisions between Israel’s military commanders and the civilian government have cast a shadow over the conduct of the war in Gaza and raised doubts about the future direction of the conflict. The lack of unity and clear strategy could have significant implications for the outcome of the war and the governance of Gaza in the long run.
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