The Surprise Attack
According to Israeli writer Yigil Levy, the leaders of the Israeli army were caught off guard by the attack carried out by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). But Levy believes that this failure was bound to happen because of certain reasons.
- Policy of Deterrence
One reason is that the Israeli army is used to a policy of deterrence. This means they try to prevent the Palestinians in Gaza from fighting back and defending themselves. They rely heavily on technology and want to keep things the way they are, without any changes. But this approach didn't work on October 7.
- Demographic Change
Levy also talks about a change that happened within the Israeli army. The old middle-class soldiers who lived in cities and settlements left, and new groups of settlers, religious Jews, and immigrants from the Soviet Union and Ethiopia took their place. These new groups reached senior leadership positions and changed the army's focus from politics to the military.
- Disobedience within the Army
During the current war, there has been a rise in disobedience among Israeli soldiers. Some soldiers have even taken pictures of themselves stealing and looting Palestinian homes. But the military establishment hasn't done much to address this issue because their main priority is to keep the soldiers motivated to fight.
The End of the War
Levy believes that the war will only end if there is pressure from outside, like the United States, or if Israel faces economic losses and international sanctions. Another way the war could end is if it becomes clear that Israel cannot achieve its goals and that military action is not working. But as long as these conditions are not met, the status quo will continue.
The Cost of the Conflict
Increasing the costs of maintaining the conflict, exhausting military action, and coming up with a credible political alternative could be a turning point. However, it's easier to keep things the way they are than to make changes, especially when the military rhetoric supports the status quo.
The Loss of Soldiers
About 500 Israeli soldiers were killed in the Gaza war, and this has raised many questions among Israelis. Until what time will Israeli endure heavy loss of lives? How long will the economy of Israel pay for war? And many other questions have been raised.
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