Yair Golan, an Israeli politician and leader of the Democratic party and a senior military officer, criticized the Israeli government's handling of the war on Gaza, asserting that it should have "ended long ago."

In a post on X, he argued that the ongoing war is driven by the government's failure to initiate a genuine political process and its focus on maintaining power, particularly by reigniting the issue of settlements in Gaza. 

In a recent television interview, Golan further condemned the war, describing the death of any additional Israeli soldiers in Gaza as "a senseless death." He urged the government to bring the war to an end and stop the needless bloodshed that continues to claim lives on both sides.

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The Israeli newspaper Haaretz echoed similar concerns in its editorial, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government to negotiate a deal for the release of Israeli captives in Gaza. The paper emphasized that halting the war on Gaza should be a primary objective to prevent further destruction and a rising death toll among Israeli soldiers.

Haaretz also warned that if Netanyahu fails to stop the war, Israeli soldiers and Gaza captives will face even greater risks. 

Additionally, Israeli media criticized the military's strategy of entering and exiting Gaza without fully occupying the territory, claiming that Hamas exploits this tactic to plant deadly traps.

This comes as Israeli media acknowledged the death of 46 soldiers and officers during an Israeli military operation in northern Gaza, specifically in the areas of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahia. The operation, which began three months ago, has come at a "very high cost," according to Israeli reports.

Read more: Absence of Gaza post-war plan to take us back to Oct. 6: Israeli media