Amidst the ongoing war on Gaza, voices from within Israeli society are warning of a dire situation as they caution against the continuation of hostilities that they argue are contributing to the erosion of the foundations of the Israeli occupation.

Critics, including prominent Israeli voices, have accused the government and military of perpetuating falsehoods to prolong the conflict for their own political and military interests. They assert that the narrative being disseminated, which touts military achievements and promises of security, is a smokescreen aimed at buying time rather than addressing the pressing issues facing the nation.

"The majority of the people believe this horrific lie they [the government and military] are spreading on every political and military level in order to gain time for their political and military survival and search for a last resort to save themselves as much as possible," Israeli Major General (Ret.) Yitzhak Brick in an article in Maariv Israeli newspaper.

The ramifications of persisting with the conflict, Brick argues, extend beyond the immediate military objectives. He warned of societal disintegration, with the fabric of Israeli society fraying at its seams across various sectors including security, economy, education, and healthcare.

"We've become people without passion, indifferent, disinterested, acting like machines," the Israeli military affairs expert stressed. "Only stopping the fighting in the Gaza Strip now can stop the collapse of the state."

Moreover, he called for a strategic reevaluation and urged Israeli leaders to prioritize national interests over narrow political agendas while emphasizing the need to address underlying vulnerabilities such as economic instability, strained international relations, and societal divisions exacerbated by the protracted conflict.

"We need to take a break, return the abducted, prepare the army for the large-scale regional war, which is a real existential threat to our survival in this geographic location," Brick underlined. "Continuing the war in the Gaza Strip, which lost its objective a while ago, is the guaranteed path to further disintegration of the state."

"It's better to preserve our military achievements in the Gaza Strip so far than lose them. The opposite is true; the more we continue fighting in Gaza, the deeper we'll sink into the muck," he added. "Destroying four battalions in Rafah and "completely undermining Hamas" is the biggest lie in the history of Israel's wars, a lie they [the government and military] are selling us."

"We are now standing on the edge of the abyss, and if we continue to stand by and believe the fake news our leaders are spreading, there will be no recovery or way back soon, and we will lose the state for another 2,000 years," Brick stressed.

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"One reckless decision by [Prime Minister] Bibi [Netanyahu], Gantz, and Herzog Halevi will ignite the entire Middle East. Since I don't rely on the sanity of these three, I feel that a decision of this nature has already been made. We are under the control of irrational people who pushed Israel to the brink on October 7, 2023, and may cause Israel's third destruction. This group is playing with fire at the expense of Israeli citizens."

Losing battle

According to James M. Dorsey, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's numerous struggles are divided into two categories: maintaining his increasingly shaky government and waging a war that he has already lost in the court of public opinion and possibly on the ground in the Gaza Strip.

Dorsey analyzes the current situation in Palestine in Eurasia Review, explaining that the Israeli occupation recently suffered its biggest serious diplomatic humiliation since 2016 when the US allowed the United Nations Security Council to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza by abstaining from the vote.

This is the first time since October 7 that Washington has allowed the council to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, despite previously vetoing three similar resolutions.

Former Israeli foreign ministry director general Alon Liel expressed that this was a "Serious blow," citing the same feeling regarding European Security Council members voting in favor of a ceasefire.

Subsequently, Netanyahu canceled an Israeli delegation's trip to Washington, saying he had done so to send a message to Hamas. "My decision to not send the delegation was a message to Hamas: Don't bet on this pressure to work. It's not going to work," he asserted. 

Martin Indyk, a former US ambassador to "Israel" and US Middle East peace negotiator stated that there was "no doubt" the US did not veto in an attempt to inform Netanyahu " his house is on fire, and he should not take the US for granted."

Dorsey also sheds light on recent confrontations in the West Bank and the ever-evolving battles being fought in Gaza by the Palestinian resistance. He notes that "Israel" can expect an insurgency in both areas even if the bombardment ends Today.

The author argues that the inability to defeat Hamas comes from "Israel's" 'incapability or unwillingness to maintain law and order in Gaza," its political undermining of UNRWA, and its "refusal to allow unfettered humanitarian supplies to enter the territory."

This, he believes, reinforces "Hamas' resilience" and ability to return to areas left by the IOF.