The Israeli newspaper Haaretz has issued a stark warning that the Israeli occupation is heading “with open eyes toward a disaster that deepens by the day” as its war on Gaza approaches its second year mark. 

In its editorial, Haaretz argued that the goals declared by the Israeli leadership, “defeating Hamas,” “restoring security control,” and “bringing back the hostages,” have lost meaning amid mounting destruction and human suffering.

The paper noted that even before the official launch of Operation “Gideon’s Chariots 2,” entire neighborhoods in Gaza had already been flattened. Satellite images reveal widespread devastation, while rescue services are warning of imminent collapse without urgent humanitarian intervention.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are left without shelter, food, or medical care. “Unless action is taken now, the damage will soon be irreversible,” the editorial warned.

Military conduct under scrutiny

The newspaper also raised concerns about reports of controversial battlefield practices. It highlighted the “Uriya Force,” led by Bezalel Zini, the brother of the incoming Shin Bet chief, accusing the unit of pushing troops into tunnels and booby-trapped buildings while using Palestinians as human shields. According to the editorial, such methods erode the "army’s moral framework" and undermine command structures, with responsibility placed squarely on the political and military leadership.

Haaretz argued that senior Israeli security officials recognize the limits of the war but have failed to speak truthfully to the public. The editorial stressed that every branch of the security establishment has urged the cabinet to accept a deal, even a partial one, warning of heavy costs, including further loss of soldiers and captives, exhaustion of military resources, and the risks of "indefinite military rule in Gaza".

Despite this, the Chief of Staff and senior commanders have allowed operations such as “Gideon’s Chariots B” to continue, the paper wrote.

Netanyahu's political survival over strategy

The editorial also pointed to international reactions, quoting US President Donald Trump, who said, “They need to end this war; it is hurting Israel. They may be winning the war, but they are not winning the public relations war in the world.”

Haaretz argued that Trump’s comments reflected concerns over image rather than the lives being lost, as “decisions are being made in Jerusalem without serious or responsible foundations.”

Meanwhile, Israeli settler communities, led by the captives’ families, continue to confront what the paper called a detached government. Protests have failed to shift Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s course, as the editorial contended; the war has become tied to his political survival.

Concluding its piece, Haaretz demanded an immediate halt to the war, the return of captives, and adoption of the "internationally supported Arab proposal for the day after.” The editorial warned that Gaza’s devastation and "Israel’s" internal unraveling would otherwise become irreversible: “Israel must stop, now.”