Israeli military faces shortage of at least 10,000 soldiers
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The Israeli military is facing a shortage of at least 10,000 troops and spare parts as it prepares for a costly invasion and occupation of Gaza City.
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Israeli soldiers walk along the border of the Gaza Strip, Occupied Palestine, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 (AP)
Estimates within the Israeli military indicate a significant shortage in the number of troops required to carry out the next phase of operations in the Gaza Strip, with the deficit estimated to be at least 10,000 soldiers, according to reports from "Israel's" Channel 12.
According to the channel, the military has identified gaps related to a shortage of spare parts for some of its vehicles due to foreign companies boycotting "Israel", a development that comes as the army prepares to expand its war on the Gaza Strip amid domestic pressure over the prolonged duration of the war.
The plan to take control of Gaza City places the Israeli military in front of a difficult and costly challenge, as it would involve operating in the most densely populated urban area of the Palestinian territory.
Gaza City has a higher population density than the rest of the Gaza Strip, with pre-war estimates putting its population at over 760,000 people, according to Palestinian official figures, out of a total population of around 2.4 million in the territory.
The city's population has grown throughout the 22-month-long war, as large numbers of displaced people have fled there to escape Israeli bombardment, with the city now crammed with makeshift shelters and tents often set up on the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes.
Gaza occupation could cost billions of dollars
Aside from the human cost of such an invasion plan, "Israel" is looking at a massive financial bill to pay in its pursuit of occupying Gaza, with harsh economic repercussions on the entity.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the occupation of Gaza could cost "Israel" anywhere between $32 billion to $49 billion annually, with the Israeli Finance Ministry warning that this could push the budget deficit to 7%, prompting another credit rating downgrade.
Gad Lior, an economic reporter and analyst, stated that financing this decision would necessitate "dramatic" reductions in education, health, and social welfare budgets, as well as the introduction of new taxes, even as the deficit continues to grow.
According to Finance Ministry estimates, mobilizing 250,000 reserve soldiers and covering ammunition expenditures would amount to roughly $94 million per day, or between $2.7 billion to $3 billion monthly, with projections indicating that cumulative expenses could climb to $8.1 to $13.5 billion by the close of 2025.
Furthermore, maintaining control and governance over Gaza would demand an additional monthly expenditure of $2.7 billion to $4 billion, while billions more would be required to establish temporary shelters and deliver essential humanitarian aid, including food, water, medical supplies, and electricity, to Gaza’s civilian population.
