The Heavy Price Israel Pays for the Ongoing War in Gaza

Israelis are grappling with many questions after more than fourteen months of continuous aggression on Gaza, as the resistance continues to confront Israeli forces. Among the pressing questions that remain unanswered is: What can Israel do that it hasn’t already done against the resistance? The ongoing war is harming Israel itself, making its cessation a critical interest. The hope for the resistance’s surrender, which Israelis often express openly, remains unattainable.

Ben-Dror Yemini, a columnist for Yedioth Ahronoth, emphasized:

“Israel’s leaders, particularly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are not threatening Hamas by proclaiming the war will continue even after a prisoner exchange deal. On the contrary, they are aiding Hamas, which has been in a state of ‘strengthened weakness’ for months and has little left to lose.”

In the article Yemini elaborates:

“Hamas continues to portray itself as the victim and embodies Palestinian national identity. Strategically, the concept of sacrifice is a winning card for Palestinians, granting them international strength and mobilizing hundreds of thousands to protest in Western cities and universities.”

Yemini noted:

“The more Israel intensifies its harm against Palestinians, the more the latter elevate their struggle to new levels, while Israel’s position worsens. So what exactly can Israel do at this stage? Kill ten more Hamas fighters daily? Destroy ten more buildings? Block food truck deliveries? Ultimately, none of this will deter Hamas, which uses Israel’s actions to amplify its narrative of genocide, starvation, ethnic cleansing, and colonialism.”

He continued:

“This Palestinian narrative, built on such terms, is a major player on the strategic chessboard. Netanyahu’s strategy, which failed before the Hamas attack on October 7, has continued to fail since then. It reflects a never-ending war strategy, with mounting domestic and international costs for Israel.”

Yemini explained:

“The internal costs of the Gaza war for Israel include increased reverse migration of Israelis abroad, growing polarization and division within society, rising frustration over the government’s abandonment of hostages, declining commitment to reservists, and economic damage due to increased funding for ultra-Orthodox communities at the expense of soldiers bearing the brunt of the war.”

He further pointed out the international repercussions:

“Israel has replaced South Africa as the global symbol of apartheid. This isn’t limited to arms embargoes imposed by many Western nations; it extends to a silent boycott, including the suspension of cooperation in academic and scientific research, reduced investments, increased anti-Jewish incidents worldwide, and more victories for anti-Israel campaigns.”

Yemini remarked:

“Despite all of this, Netanyahu continues to threaten Hamas with more combat in hopes of intimidating them. But in the end, the result is more of the same. Each passing day sees Israel perceived as the aggressor, which serves as a small victory for the global campaign against it. While Hamas is undoubtedly in a state of weakness, Israel is experiencing a similar fragility. Though most Western citizens are not inherently hostile toward Israel, the problem lies with the influential elites in media, academia, and cultural circles, who adopt a staunchly anti-Israel stance.”

He concluded:

“After 457 days of bombardment on Gaza and eliminating most Hamas leaders, ending the war has become an essential Israeli interest. Reducing the damage is imperative, as every day without a ceasefire increases the toll on Israel. Moreover, ending the war could pave the way for a strategic normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, improving Israel’s deteriorating situation. As it stands, Israel faces growing losses, with soldiers dying, hostages perishing, and the state becoming increasingly ostracized.”