On October 7, the Israeli public was shocked and horrified by the scale of the Hamas massacre. It’s been almost three weeks since the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, and Hamas is still active and able to carry out attacks on Israeli territory. Despite having substantial international support, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet have yet to achieve significant military success. Israel continues to boast about eliminating B-level commanders, carrying out airstrikes, and destroying Hamas infrastructure, but Hamas’s ability to threaten Israel remains unaffected.
Meanwhile, Hamas has accomplished several things since October 7. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been forced out of their homes, leaving the borders vulnerable. IDF reservists are out of the economy, and diplomatic initiatives with Muslim partners in the region are suspended. The focus of news coverage and diplomatic conversations is shifting towards the need for hostages to be freed, humanitarian aid to be provided to Gaza, and the casualties on the Palestinian side.
Israel cannot achieve its war aims without a massive ground operation into the Gaza Strip, but Netanyahu seems hesitant to take action. It’s unclear why, but there are various reasons that may explain the delay. The US has asked Israel to wait until air defenses are in place to protect US troops in the region. The Biden administration also wants more time to free hostages and provide aid to Gaza while minimizing civilian casualties. Additionally, there may be sensible Israeli reasons to move slowly, such as ensuring troops are fully equipped and softening up Hamas defenses.
However, most airstrikes seem to be targeting Hamas officials, headquarters, and launchers, rather than the defenses that IDF troops will encounter on the outskirts of Gaza’s cities. As each day passes, the readiness of the troops decreases. Initially eager to fight, they are now left with little to do and are returning home or engaging in recreational activities.
There is a possibility that the leaks to international outlets and Netanyahu’s address to the nation are part of a coordinated deception campaign. If Israel is fooling Hamas into lowering their guard, then the country may be in better hands than perceived. However, if the delay is due to indecision or a mistaken belief that the operation can be carried out painlessly, then Israel is in more dire straits than ever imagined.
As a dedicated reader, we appreciate your support. We invite you to join The Times of Israel Community and help support our work by enjoying an ad-free experience and accessing exclusive content. Your contribution, as little as $6 a month, goes a long way in supporting quality journalism. Thank you for being part of our community.
[Facebook Pixel Code]
